The Inter-American Development Bank has granted a loan that will be used to finance energy efficiency projects for small and medium-sized companies.
The funds for this loan come from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and will be executed by the Development Bank of El Salvador (BANDESAL). The objective of the financing granted is to support the efforts being made by SMEs in El Salvador to reduce electricity consumption and limit greenhouse gas emissions, reported the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The website for the "Business Intelligence System of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union" summarizes the regulatory framework, procedures, market information and other topics of interest to exporting SMEs.
The Ministry of Economy of El Salvador has put online a "Business Intelligence System of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union", a website which aims to present the content and the benefits of the Association Agreement in a format which is simple and accessible, so that Central American exporters and importers can receive this information and maximize opportunities.
The State's role is not to teach entrepreneurs how to do things, but to remove obstacles so that they can create wealth.
Editorial
It is remarkable how the role of the State has been misrepresented, especially in some countries in the region. The primary functions of governments are being carried out at half measures or not being done at all: the insecurity of people and goods is increasing, justice is neither swift nor effective, health and education services are only for those who can afford them, and public infrastructure is a far cry from the taxes that correspond to paying for it.
A promotion exercise is being carried out of the "Best Service" certification in the region in order to improve service and positioning of SMEs in tourism.
In order to improve the service and prestige of small and medium tourism enterprises in the region, the Federation of Tourism Chambers of Central America (FEDECATUR) is promoting the "Best Service" certification.
The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador and Guatemala will select 28 SMEs to participate in an exchange with U.S. companies.
From a statement by Bpeace.org:
"Considering that the creation of jobs by Salvadoran and Guatemala companies and growing businesses is one of the best ways to help El Salvador and Guatemala thrive, the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador and Guatemala City, the Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the United States Department of State (ECA) in Washington, DC, and Bpeace (Business Council for Peace), a non-profit organization based in the United States, are pleased to announce an open competition.
On 25 and 26 November a seminar will be held to train Salvadoran SMEs in the legal regulations and requirements needed to export to the European market .
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador:
The Government of El Salvador with the European Union will hold on the 25th and 26th of November, the "CA- EU Partnership Agreement: opportunities to export" a seminar-workshop, in order to support small and medium enterprises in the Salvadoran process of internationalization and diversification of markets and products to Europe, as part of the trade pillar agreement which came into force on 1 October .
Small and medium enterprises in the region, especially in the food sector, have great opportunities to export to the European market.
This was explained by Ingrid Figueroa, director of the Regional Center for the Promotion of MSMEs (Cenpromype), an agency of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
Aspects such as quality, standards, certifications and seals of approval are elements that European consumers evaluate before acquiring goods that are produced in the region, therefore this must be made known to the producers. "For a small company that has not met the requirements of the European market it can be a complex issue," she said.
In Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador large scale traders and exporters are leveraging the ability of small farmers assuring them market space.
For example, in Nicaragua, 228 dairy producers who are members of the Cooperative 'Cooperativa de Productores de Leche El Triunfo RL ' (Cooproleche) are no longer exposed to having to sell their product at any price .
Targeting the markets of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, the Export Promotion Agency of El Salvador has relaunched the program in support of SMEs.
From a press release published by the Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments of El Salvador (PROESA):
Under the Export Promotion Strategy, the Government of El Salvador launched on Tuesday April 16 the third edition of the Step by Step Export Program, a coordinated effort between the Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments of El Salvador (PROESA) and the Ministry of Economy (MINEC), which has the support of the Technical Secretariat of the Presidency (STP), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through USAID's development program for SMEs, and the Special Fund of Resources from the Proceeds of the Privatization of ANTEL (FANTEL). It is expected that one hundred Salvadoran firms will initially be assisted as exporters and that there will be negotiations totalling over $5 million.
From October, the Agricultural Research and Education Center CATIE will begin the second phase of its project FINNFOR, on Forests and Forest Management in Central America.
A statement of the Center for Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) reads:
FINNFOR officially begins its second phase
CATIE and the Government of Finland will seek to improve the livelihoods of small and medium forestry enterprises through the second phase of FINNFOR.
More than 130 Mesoamerican companies in the food sector offered their products to more than 40 buyers from Japan, China, South Korea, the United States, Canada and Latin America.
Among the activities at Manufexport 2012, was the fourth edition of LAC Flavors in Antigua, Guatemala, held from 11 to 13 July.
According to a statement from the Inter-American Development Bank, “The event, organized by the IDB and the Government of Guatemala, will bring together SMEs selected for their export capacity, quality certifications, and fair trade practices. The companies take part in more than 1,200 appointments through a new system of matchmaking: IDB experts study the characteristics of each exporter in order to make various appointments with the buyers that represent the best choice of partner.
The Embassy of the Republic of Taiwan is organizing seminars to publicise the demand for products such as nuts, paints, tuna, and spices.
"We believe that SMEs have little access to long-range markets like Taiwan and are focusing more on neighboring markets, but this is not enough, so we have prepared this seminar so as to boost exports to other markets," said Andres Liu, minister counselor from the Embassy of Taiwan, according Elmundo.com.sv.
The loan will benefit more than 1,000 producers by providing access to co-financing for enhancing trade capacity.
A press release by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) states:
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a loan of U.S. $30 million to El Salvador for the program of Development Support Production for International Integration, which will increase the ability of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in national, regional and global value chains.
The exporters corporation of El Salvador is holding a regional workshop themed “Modernising Technical Requirements” to help people export to the U.S. safely.
As part of its AGROCAFTA program, the corporation of exporters of El Salvador (COEXPORT) is including a a regional workshop on modernising technical requirements to support SMEs with making secure exports to the U.S.