United States, Sept. 30 -- The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) has set in motion the South Connection regional program, following discussion by the Board of Executive Directors. This new initiative seeks to improve connectivity and competitiveness in South America to promote sustainable growth. South America holds enormous potential, but structural challenges continue to impede progress, including high trade costs, limited trade integration, poor transportation and digital infrastructure, weak energy connectivity, and fragmented regulations. The continent also experiences low levels of investment, underdeveloped trade in services (just 15% of exports, versus 25-30% in advanced economies), limited regional coordination, and...