More than 100 representatives from European and Latin American institutions took part in the session “The private sector’s green transition: outcomes and legacy”, organised as part of the #CONEXIÓNVerde+ initiative, the closing event of the AL-INVEST Verde programme. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the main progress made by the programme and to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Latin America in support of a more sustainable and competitive industrial transition.
During the event, the impact achieved by the AL-INVEST Verde Private Sector Support Component was highlighted; since its launch, has benefited more than 80,000 MSMEs through the implementation of 71 projects in 15 Latin American countries, strengthening 17 productive sectors thanks to an investment of 30 million euros.
The session began with a keynote speech on the European business sector’s perspective, which highlighted how sustainability has moved beyond being merely a regulatory requirement to become a strategic factor in competitiveness, innovation and growth. It also emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between Europe and Latin America to promote the exchange of knowledge, investment and the adoption of sustainable business models.
Subsequently, representatives from companies, business networks and international organisations took part in a panel discussion on the private sector’s green transition, where they shared their experiences in the circular economy, sustainable tourism, responsible supply chains and sustainable investment. The discussion highlighted the vital role of business support organisations, technical assistance and capacity-building in helping MSMEs to adopt sustainable practices and respond to the new demands of international markets.
The event also included the presentation of projects spearheaded by AL-INVEST Verde, which demonstrated concrete results in the areas of innovation, sustainability and business development. The initiatives cover areas such as the circular economy in industry, sustainability in the textile sector, traceability in value chains, sustainable agri-food production and the strategic use of intellectual property to generate greater added value for local products and strengthen regional development.
During the afternoon session, participants discussed opportunities for strategic cooperation between the European Union and Latin America to accelerate the sustainable industrial transition through innovation, the circular economy and the strengthening of resilient value chains. The discussions concluded that international collaboration, knowledge-sharing and coordination between the public sector, the private sector and international cooperation will be crucial to maximising the impact of initiatives and helping MSMEs adapt to environmental and economic challenges.
The event concluded with a strategic discussion on the potential for replicating the initiatives developed by AL-INVEST Verde across different sectors and territories in the region. The participants agreed that the programme’s main legacy goes beyond the projects implemented and includes methodologies, institutional capacities, technical assistance tools and collaborative networks that will enable the competitiveness and sustainability of Latin American businesses to continue to be promoted.
The conclusions of the conference reaffirmed that the private sector’s green transition requires coordinated action between businesses, business support organisations, governments and international partners. They also highlighted that sustainability, innovation and competitiveness are now inseparable pillars for building economies that are more resilient, inclusive and better equipped to tackle the challenges of sustainable development.
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.