100 Nicaraguan SMEs will receive technical advice from Colombian experts
The Chamber of Commerce and Services of Nicaragua (CNSC), the European Union (EU), The Colombian Presidential Agency of International Cooperation (APC-Colombia), and the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá have joined forces to promote the Business Services Programme (MISE) in Nicaragua.
This Programme is being developed within the framework of the Entrepreneurship and Business Development in Mesoamerica (EDEM) Project in which Colombia has extensive experience to share in advising to promote the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises.
Carmen Hilleprandt, President of the CCSN, explained that, as part of the Programme, "micro, small and medium entrepreneurs will be advised for free according to their particular needs, in addition to receiving training in marketing, digital sales and marketing, business model, production, internationalization and financial management".
Hilleprandt emphasized that this model "has a lot of potential, and particularly if we see it in the context that our country is going through, since in this situation it provides significant help in strengthening trade and services, and especially to micro, medium and small enterprises.
This Programme of accompaniment and business consulting to SMEs took its first steps in Colombia, with the financing of more than one million 894 thousand Euros provided by the European Union. After its good results, the initiative has been extended to other Latin American countries, including Nicaragua, said Carlos Augusto Castaño, administrative and financial director of APC-Colombia.
"Basically, these are the successful transfers of tools that have been carried out in the area of entrepreneurship and business development in Colombia. We are currently transferring 14 tools to 8 countries, including the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Costa Rica, Panamá, Honduras, Nicaragua and Colombia," he explained.
In terms of economic and environmental sustainability, Lauren Sillano, Head of EU cooperation, warned that the initiative poses several challenges.
"A particular challenge I see is to achieve shared, low-carbon prosperity because we need a better world, with less poverty, less hunger, more incomes and more social protection," said Sillano.
In Nicaragua, this Programme will provide business training and specialized advice free of charge to more than 100 SMEs that are members of the country's Chamber of Commerce and Services.
