Lima, 27 June 2023 - According to a study (2021) by the National Society of Industries, the textile and clothing sector in Peru ranks among the top five industries with the greatest economic activity and it is estimated that it generates around 400 thousand jobs. Likewise, the Ministry of Production highlights that, as of 2020, more than 11 thousand formal companies were registered in this sector.
In this sense, the textile and clothing sector is a strategic ally to promote the transition process of the Peruvian industrial sector to the circular economy.
Therefore, one of the most ambitious projects of the European Union, AL-INVEST Verde, which promotes sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America through the implementation of Component 1, launched in the country the project ".Textile Innovation Accelerator". which, in its first edition, will benefit 30 formal Peruvian textile companies operating in Metropolitan Lima. This initiative is led by Asociación Solidaridad Países Emergentes - ASPEm, an Italian international cooperation agency, together with its partners Asociación Española para la Sostenibilidad, the institution Innovación y Circularidad en Moda (SIC MODA), ADEC ATC, the Sociedad Nacional de Industrias - SNI, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce.
"The Textile Innovation Accelerator will provide the tools and support for Peruvian MSMEs to move towards the circular economy, an action that involves promoting a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy, adopting processes, making products and providing services that drive sustainable growth and the creation of green jobs, with particular attention to the empowerment of companies led by women," said María Zevallos, director of the Asociación Solidaridad Países Emergentes - ASPEm, the consortium's lead institution.
Challenges and opportunities
According to the project, one of its main objectives is to make the intervention in the textile sector scalable and replicable to the textile industry at national level. This pilot project, which will mainly focus on the districts of San Juan de Lurigancho, Ate, La Victoria and El Agustino, will seek to raise awareness among both entrepreneurs and consumers that being circular and generating sustainable business is viable.
Moreover, the circular economy, according to experts, generates competitiveness and opens up possibilities for new markets such as the European market.
"The project's actions include strengthening the digital channels of MSMEs to promote their inclusion in sustainable and circular digital platforms for exchange and marketing, as well as promoting their participation in international and national fairs to showcase their sustainable and circular textile innovations, and we will mainly promote the commercial connection with the European market," said the director of ASPEm.
With the official launch of the project, interested textile companies can contact comunicaciones@aspem.org.pe.
Data:
- The Textile Innovation Accelerator Project: Textile MSMEs for their transition towards sustainable and circular business models, is developed by ASPEm, the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Peru, the Spanish Association for Sustainability, the institution Innovation and Circularity in Fashion (SIC MODA), the Labour Association for Development (ADEC-ATC) and the National Society of Industries - SNI.
- The project will have a duration of two years and an investment of 2 million soles.
- To access the NIS study: https://sni.org.pe/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Presentacion-Textil-y-confecciones-IEES.pdf
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 sequaThe programme manages funds for the implementation of innovative small business partnership projects to promote sustainable practices in the private sector.
Further information: www.alinvest-verde.eu
