• More than 200 representatives from Latin America and the European Union participated in the programme's annual event in the capital of Antioquia.
• 40 million to its implementation in the region, in partnership with public, private and IP institutions.  
• In three years, it has benefited more than 47,000 SMEs in the region, promoting sustainable private sector development.
• Regional dialogues on sustainable value chains have been organised and the creation and strengthening of public-private traceability platforms in the coffee, livestock, soy and forest products chains, among others, has been promoted.
• Training and capacity building actions have been implemented for producers to ensure the protection of intellectual property rights.

More than 200 representatives of governments, the private sector, international organisations and producers from Latin America and the European Union met in Medellín (Colombia) from 6 to 10 October, convened by the European Union's AL-INVEST Verde programme, which organised its annual #CONEXIÓNVerde+ event in the capital of Antioquia.

During the closing day, held on Friday 10 October, the main results of the Programme were presented, which since October 2021 has allocated 40 million euros to its implementation in the region through cooperation with the public sector, the private sector and various intellectual property institutions. Its objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America.

The Colombian Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade, Luis Felipe Quintero, referred to Colombia's progress towards deforestation-free production and highlighted the efforts and support of the European Union to this end. “Today we can say that Colombia has paved the way. We are ready to move forward based on the fact that good work has been done”.”, he stressed.

Representing Brazil, Leonardo das Neves Carvalho, Secretary of State for the Environment of Acre, and Enio Bergoli da Costa, Secretary of State for Agriculture, Supply, Aquaculture and Fisheries of Espírito Santo, highlighted bioeconomy policies and the reduction of legal deforestation in their respective states. In addition, Bergoli da Costa highlighted Espírito Santo's leadership in sustainable coffee farming.

"The AL-INVEST Verde programme is a commitment to better products, better processes, more innovation, greater valorisation and better markets, in an environment where sustainability has become a requirement both for market access and for reaching end consumers.”said Horst Pilger, Head of the Global Gateway Private Sector and Investment Team at the European Commission's Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), during the inauguration.

Results of AL-INVEST Verde

AL-INVEST Verde is present in 15 countries in the region, where it implements initiatives in key sectors such as agriculture, livestock, industry and services. These actions help drive a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy to facilitate the implementation of more sustainable production models.

"AL-INVEST Verde is demonstrating that bi-regional cooperation can translate into concrete results: mutual trust, institutional strengthening, business innovation and new opportunities for our communities. The work must now continue and every action we take must aim to consolidate what has been achieved and ensure that the green connections we have built remain in place beyond 2026.”said Ingrid Jenezova, Programme Manager for AL-INVEST Verde and AL-INVEST Next at DG INTPA of the European Commission.

Through 67 projects developed together with the private sector, AL-INVEST Verde has benefited more than 47,000 Latin American SMEs, strengthening their production models by adopting more efficient circular economy and digitalisation practices.

The programme has also collaborated with nine Latin American governments to implement 46 actions (38 technical assistance and 8 grants) in strategic sectors such as forestry, coffee, cocoa and cattle farming, as well as multi-sectoral initiatives.

This cooperation has also boosted the organisation of regional dialogues on sustainable value chains, the creation and strengthening of public-private, multi-product and free traceability systems for producers, together with massive, multi-stakeholder processes aimed at compliance with the European Union Deforestation Free Regulation (EUDR) and the consolidation of more sustainable value chains in the region.

In the field of intellectual property (IP), some fifty initiatives have been carried out, such as the modernisation of processes and data in IP institutions and the improvement of the productive sector's capacity to innovate with trademarks, designs, patents, copyrights and geographical indications. Likewise, networks of actors have been consolidated to ensure that IP is protected and reaches the market under international standards.   

Nearly 7,000 public officials, entrepreneurs, IP professionals and producers have been trained in the strategic use of IP rights to boost business sustainability and competitiveness. The programme has also accompanied 27 groups of agricultural and artisanal producers through the AL-INVmentor initiative of specialised mentoring in geographical indications or designations of origin, which helped to add value to sustainable chains for products such as coffee, cocoa, honey, tea, açaí or silk. During the day, emphasis was also placed on the key role of women in value chains and the challenges of implementing circular economy business practices with cleaner and more efficient business models that reduce environmental impact.

As part of its implementation, AL-INVEST Verde facilitates meetings between European and Latin American organisations, many of them also executors of its projects, fostering synergies and the development of joint initiatives. These spaces seek to ensure the sustainability of ongoing initiatives and advance shared work agendas that promote the growth of both regions.

The #CONEXIÓNVerde+ meeting was organised by the programme's implementing institutions: sequa, FIAP, IILLA and EUIPO. In addition to the aforementioned people, the inauguration was attended by Marcela Ruiz, Secretary of Environment of Medellín, and Cielo Elainne Rusinque Urrego, from the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Also in attendance were Carmen Vegas, Vice-Minister of Policy and Supervision of Agricultural Development of Peru, and Alexandre Mateus, Head of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Delegation of the European Union in Colombia.

About AL-INVEST Verde

AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union (EU) programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy.

Through Component 1, led by sequa, the programme manages funds for the implementation of innovative small business partnership projects to promote sustainable practices, circular economy or low carbon in the private sector.

Through Component 2, led by the Foundation for the Internationalisation of Public Administrations (FIAP) in consortium with the International Italo-Latin American Organisation (IILA), it provides assistance particularly in MERCOSUR countries for the strengthening of public policies and multi-stakeholder dialogues on sustainable agricultural and value chains, environmental and labour standards, as well as sustainable trade and economic policy and regulatory frameworks.

Through Component 3, led by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the programme seeks to achieve greater use and effectiveness of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the region, particularly in the MERCOSUR countries, to boost opportunities for research cooperation and stimulate competitiveness and sustainable innovation.