More than 200 representatives from governments, business organisations, companies, bodies and institutions in Latin America and the European Union took part in #CONEXIÓNVerde, the annual event of the AL-INVEST Verde programme, held in Brussels (Belgium) from 16 to 18 June. This year’s event, conceived as a closing ceremony, focused on reflecting on the programme’s legacy and on strengthening the partnerships needed to ensure the continuity of the results achieved in sustainability, innovation and economic development. 

The event was structured around high-level sessions, thematic panels and strategic dialogues, with the aim of consolidating lessons learnt and fostering new synergies to drive progress in the areas of employment, sustainable competitiveness and the green transition in Latin America. 

On the first day, 16 June, the parallel sessions focused on supporting the private sector and strengthening the public sector. On the second day, 17 June, a plenary session presented the programme’s results and legacy, as well as the challenges to be addressed, whilst acknowledging the key stakeholders who contributed to its success. The third day, 18 June, was devoted to a number of field visits designed to deepen understanding of European practices and strengthen the networking among the participants. 

During the plenary session, entitled “The legacy of AL-INVEST Verde: from experience to continuity”, officials from the European Commission, government representatives and private-sector stakeholders from Latin America, as well as the organisations responsible for implementing the programme, analysed the progress made and the role of bi-regional cooperation in driving the transition towards more sustainable, resilient and competitive production models. 

The event was opened by Mr Félix Fernández Shaw, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), who emphasised the importance of strengthening the relationship between the two regions: “It is a partnership that must continue to grow stronger, as it embodies the values of sustainability that we would like to see reflected throughout the world”. 

Government representatives from Latin America also took the floor. Mr Gustavo Giménez Fernández, Deputy Minister for MSMEs at the Paraguayan Ministry of Industry and Trade, emphasised the need for “Sustainability should be a gateway for our micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, not a barrier”. For his part, Mr Jorge Luis Sáenz Rabanal, Deputy Minister for Agrarian Development Policy and Oversight at Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI), stated that “For Peru, the sustainability of agro-export supply chains is a strategic priority” and emphasised that “The European Union is a key strategic partner for the country”. 

Mr René Vossen, managing director of sequa; Mr Francisco Tierraseca, Director of FIAP; and Mr Gianandrea Rossi, Executive Director of IILA, also spoke on behalf of the three institutions implementing the programme’s support for the private and public sectors. Mr Vossen emphasised that “AL-INVEST Verde is not just a programme, but a partnership”, whilst Mr Tierraseca highlighted the programme’s support for “public policies that have a real impact in the countries we work with”. Mr Rossi highlighted the challenge of “to produce more and better whilst respecting the environment” and noted that this agenda is fully integrated into IILA’s areas of work. These contributions reinforced the programme’s focus on institutional cooperation and the shared commitment to promoting sustainable production.  

The results were presented by Mr Frank Summa, Director of the Private Sector Support Component (SEQUA); Mr Emilio Calvo, Director of the Public Sector Support Component (FIAP); and Mr Andrea Monaco, programme team leader at IILA. They all highlighted the programme’s key achievements and its contribution to sustainability, business competitiveness and public policy in Latin America.

The agenda also included strategic discussions on strengthening sustainable and innovative value chains, the use of digital tools to support sustainable production, and the potential for scaling up the initiatives developed under the programme. Experts and representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay shared their experiences regarding traceability, certification, international trade, corporate sustainability and digital transformation. 

Companies, business organisations and international bodies also examined the challenges and opportunities of the green transition in the private sector, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the European Union and Latin America in accelerating the adoption of sustainable production models. Successful initiatives developed under AL-INVEST Verde were presented, demonstrating concrete results in innovation, business strengthening and market access. 

The participants agreed that the progress made in recent years provides a solid foundation for moving towards more resilient, inclusive and sustainable value chains. The plenary session concluded with a call to strengthen strategic partnerships, expand opportunities for cooperation and ensure the continuity of the initiatives promoted by AL-INVEST Verde beyond 2026. 

Notable achievements in sustainability and traceability in Latin America 

In the area of support for the private sector, the programme has benefited more than 80,000 Latin American MSMEs through 71 projects carried out in 15 countries, promoting the adoption of sustainable practices, circular economy models, digitalisation and low-carbon production. Furthermore, it has helped to consolidate a network of more than 200 Latin American and European institutions, strengthening business cooperation and the exchange of knowledge to drive the green transition. 

To date, more than 20,600 companies have adopted new sustainable business practices, and more than 12,100 MSMEs report savings in resources such as water, energy, fuel and materials. As job creation is one of the programme’s main objectives, nearly 20,000 green and digital jobs have been created or strengthened — 50% of them for women — thanks to the programme’s interventions. 

In the area of support for the public sector, work has been carried out in nine Latin American countries to strengthen traceability systems, improve the management of production data and facilitate adaptation to new sustainability and zero-deforestation requirements. Key results include the launch of nine public traceability platforms, the certification of 1,969 trainers, the georeferencing and registration of 26,411 agricultural parcels, and the integration of 1.2 million hectares of forest plantations. In addition, 91,791 deforestation analyses were carried out in relation to soya and beef supply chains in Argentina, and 30,460 economic operators in Peru, Argentina and Ecuador were briefed on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the use of traceability platforms. 

The programme also organised 22 bi-regional dialogues focusing on six strategic value chains, involving 3,493 representatives from 38 countries and five EUDR officials, thereby strengthening opportunities for exchange and cooperation between Latin America and the European Union with a view to promoting more sustainable and resilient agri-food value chains. 

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 to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. 

The programme works with the private sector, public authorities and intellectual property organisations to build capacity, drive innovation, promote sustainable value chains and foster frameworks that support sustainable economic development in the region.

AL-INVEST Verde is a key pillar of the Global Gateway strategy and illustrates how the European Union translates its vision into concrete actions through partnerships that drive sustainable development and responsible economic growth in Latin America.