The week of institutional meetings between the partners of the GREEN PYMES ALLIANCE project, an initiative co-financed by the European programme AL INVEST GREEN, led by the Chamber of Commerce of Bucaramanga and realised in partnership with SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, the Chambers of Commerce of Colombia and Honduras, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Colombia and Diesis Network, has just ended.
In cooperation with Confindustria Delegation in Brussels, the meeting of May 6th was particularly significant to meet the representatives of the Global Gateway and the European Commission - DG INTPA International Partnership, and to take stock of the cooperation between the European Union and Latin America for sustainable development. The speakers presented collaborative projects aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and economic growth in the LA region, with a focus on the Global Gateway initiative and EU programmes.
The meeting opened with an overview of the Global Gateway and its cooperation programmes between the EU and Latin America, particularly in Central America, aimed at facilitating the transmission of energy between the different regions, reducing energy costs and creating a green market.
The Colombian Chambers of Commerce emphasised the importance of aligning with existing environmental strategies. Key areas, such as connectivity, energy transition and mobility, were highlighted as priorities for intervention through training, capacity building of business support organisations and technical assistance to public administration. In Manizales, for example, 17 municipalities could benefit from improved digital connectivity, supporting entrepreneurs in micro and popular economies. Bancolombia's Green Bonds were identified as a valuable financing mechanism to be integrated into these sustainability programmes.
Regarding EU trade policy and expanding market access, the discussion focused on Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Participants explored ways to strengthen the Andean Community Agreement with Peru and Ecuador to improve market access for products. This would offer local companies the opportunity to access new markets and strengthen trade relations within the region. The EU-CELAC summit and the new European Innovation Agenda were at the centre of the discussions. The Manizales Chamber of Commerce shared its experience with the NeuroCity Creativity and Innovation Lab, a hub dedicated to enhancing the innovation capacity of local companies. To strengthen this initiative, the Chamber expressed interest in receiving training from the EU on best practices to promote a more cohesive innovation ecosystem.
The meeting also highlighted the need to learn more about EU support programmes for start-ups, particularly those funded through venture capital. Collaboration with the European Innovation Council was seen as an essential step to provide mentoring and support to start-ups in Colombia, ensuring that they can perfect their technological innovations and bring them to market.
One of the main challenges identified in accessing technological innovations was the limited access to European funding for large-scale innovation projects. To address this problem, the Chambers expressed a strong interest in participating in the Horizon Europe programme, which supports innovation, SMEs and research groups with ambitions for international growth. Furthermore, connecting local entrepreneurs with EU angel investors could be a significant opportunity for those involved in technological innovation projects. Chambers are also eager to collaborate with InvestEU, especially in sustainability-related projects.
Among the instruments for the double transition, AL INVEST VERDE also contributes, with the Green Pymes Alliance project, to the path of adaptation of the business models of Latin American SMEs to the EU objectives, considering aspects such as the Green Pact, decarbonisation and the reduction of deforestation. Among the initiatives already developed by the Green Pymes Alliance project partners, SFC promotes initiatives for the development of green and digital skills for all workers. One example among them is the 3LoE project, COVE Centre for European Training Excellence, which places green skills at the centre of the development of production systems at all levels of education. In particular, with the INSIGHT programme for facilitators of Industrial Symbiosis, GREENER to optimise the use of Green Public Procurement, SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria is proposing itself as an interested party to expand collaborations with Latin American Chambers of Commerce, to anticipate green skills and support the double transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.
The meeting concluded by emphasising the importance of continuing to promote cooperation on sustainability issues, taking advantage of EU capacities, funding and innovation ecosystems. This meeting laid the foundation for a future of greater collaboration and mutual support in promoting sustainable economic development in Latin America, in collaboration with European partners.
The week of institutional meetings between the partners of the GREEN PYMES ALLIANCE project, an initiative co-financed by the European programme AL INVEST GREEN, led by the Chamber of Commerce of Bucaramanga and realised in partnership with SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, the Chambers of Commerce of Colombia and Honduras, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Colombia and Diesis Network, has just ended.
In cooperation with Confindustria Delegation in Brussels, the meeting of May 6th was particularly significant to meet the representatives of the Global Gateway and the European Commission - DG INTPA International Partnership, and to take stock of the cooperation between the European Union and Latin America for sustainable development. The speakers presented collaborative projects aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and economic growth in the LA region, with a focus on the Global Gateway initiative and EU programmes.
The meeting opened with an overview of the Global Gateway and its cooperation programmes between the EU and Latin America, particularly in Central America, aimed at facilitating the transmission of energy between the different regions, reducing energy costs and creating a green market.
The Colombian Chambers of Commerce emphasised the importance of aligning with existing environmental strategies. Key areas, such as connectivity, energy transition and mobility, were highlighted as priorities for intervention through training, capacity building of business support organisations and technical assistance to public administration. In Manizales, for example, 17 municipalities could benefit from improved digital connectivity, supporting entrepreneurs in micro and popular economies. Bancolombia's Green Bonds were identified as a valuable financing mechanism to be integrated into these sustainability programmes.
Regarding EU trade policy and expanding market access, the discussion focused on Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Participants explored ways to strengthen the Andean Community Agreement with Peru and Ecuador to improve market access for products. This would offer local companies the opportunity to access new markets and strengthen trade relations within the region. The EU-CELAC summit and the new European Innovation Agenda were at the centre of the discussions. The Manizales Chamber of Commerce shared its experience with the NeuroCity Creativity and Innovation Lab, a hub dedicated to enhancing the innovation capacity of local companies. To strengthen this initiative, the Chamber expressed interest in receiving training from the EU on best practices to promote a more cohesive innovation ecosystem.
The meeting also highlighted the need to learn more about EU support programmes for start-ups, particularly those funded through venture capital. Collaboration with the European Innovation Council was seen as an essential step to provide mentoring and support to start-ups in Colombia, ensuring that they can perfect their technological innovations and bring them to market.
One of the main challenges identified in accessing technological innovations was the limited access to European funding for large-scale innovation projects. To address this problem, the Chambers expressed a strong interest in participating in the Horizon Europe programme, which supports innovation, SMEs and research groups with ambitions for international growth. Furthermore, connecting local entrepreneurs with EU angel investors could be a significant opportunity for those involved in technological innovation projects. Chambers are also eager to collaborate with InvestEU, especially in sustainability-related projects.
Among the instruments for the double transition, AL INVEST VERDE also contributes, with the Green Pymes Alliance project, to the path of adaptation of the business models of Latin American SMEs to the EU objectives, considering aspects such as the Green Pact, decarbonisation and the reduction of deforestation. Among the initiatives already developed by the Green Pymes Alliance project partners, SFC promotes initiatives for the development of green and digital skills for all workers. One example among them is the 3LoE project, COVE Centre for European Training Excellence, which places green skills at the centre of the development of production systems at all levels of education. In particular, with the INSIGHT programme for facilitators of Industrial Symbiosis, GREENER to optimise the use of Green Public Procurement, SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria is proposing itself as an interested party to expand collaborations with Latin American Chambers of Commerce, to anticipate green skills and support the double transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.
The meeting concluded by emphasising the importance of continuing to promote cooperation on sustainability issues, taking advantage of EU capacities, funding and innovation ecosystems. This meeting laid the foundation for a future of greater collaboration and mutual support in promoting sustainable economic development in Latin America, in collaboration with European partners.