AL-INVEST Verde, the European Union's international cooperation programme that promotes job creation through the development of the green economy in Latin America, continues to strengthen its impact in the region through its component to boost the private sector - Component 1. The Programme incorporated four new projects in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil, which will benefit more than 825 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

These initiatives aim to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices, foster the circular economy, promote traceability and deforestation-free production in key sectors such as fashion, cocoa, coffee and manufacturing.

• In Colombia, the CircuLAB project, led by Inexmoda, will promote the adoption of circular economy practices in the textile and clothing sector. The initiative includes the identification of European solution providers, participation in international fairs and the strengthening of commercial capacities, benefiting 45 MSMEs.
• In Peru, Solidaridad Network, together with the Instituto para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Amazonía, is promoting the project Complying with the Green Pact: digital tools for the non-deforestation of the Amazon in Peru. This initiative focuses on the adoption of sustainable practices, traceability and deforestation-free production in the cocoa, coffee and oil palm chains, impacting 600 MSMEs.
• In Ecuador, the INSPIRA project, led by the Quito Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Pan-American Development Foundation and AHK Ecuador - Germany, is aimed at coffee-growing MSMEs interested in implementing sustainable practices. The initiative will facilitate access to the European market through compliance with traceability and sustainability standards, benefiting 150 MSMEs.
• In Brazil, the Federação das Indústrias do Estado do Ceará (FIEC), together with AHK Brasil - Germany, is leading a project focused on the diagnosis and implementation of ESG standards, which evaluate a company's performance in environmental, social and governance aspects to measure its sustainability and responsibility beyond financial aspects in MSMEs from various sectors. Through a multi-sectoral approach, it will promote the adoption of circular economy practices, impacting 30 MSMEs.

These initiatives, in addition to the 67 others already implemented by the programme, reflect AL-INVEST Verde's commitment to promoting more sustainable and resilient business models aligned with international market requirements, thus contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of the private sector in Latin America.

About AL-INVEST Verde

AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union 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, the programme manages funds for the implementation of innovative projects of small business associations to boost sustainable practices in the private sector. Component 1 is led by sequa, a German non-profit organisation operating worldwide with the aim of promoting the private sector.