CABEI, the European Union and the KfW award enterprises that promote sustainable mobility in Guatemala

Article originally published on CABEI's website on 09/07/2024. LACIF contributes to the Mipymes Verdes Initiative through an investment grant and technical assistance.

The Green MSMEs II Initiative, a tripartite effort between the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Government of Germany through the KfW, and the European Union, and with the collaboration of the Guatemalan Electric Mobility Association (AMEGUA), held the awards ceremony for the Regional Contest for Sustainable Mobility in Guatemala, which highlighted innovative micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the transition to sustainable mobility.

The Regional Sustainable Mobility Contest has sought to motivate Central American MSMEs to venture into new technologies and forms of transportation, encouraging the creation of innovative products and services that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases. The participating enterprises presented proposals that include diagnostics, recycling, and second life of batteries, manufacture of sustainable vehicles and chargers, creation of applications for charging and fleet management, vehicle rental, and maintenance workshops, as well as training centers, among other initiatives.

Innovamec Ingeniería was the first place winner, receiving a prize of US$7,000. Its project consists of selling new batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles through circular economy practices, offering exclusive cleaning services for diesel particulate filters and catalytic converters, said Fredy Fernández, owner of the business.

The second place enterprise is M&P Cousins, winner of US$5,000, which has developed a mobility app in Petén that operates within a 100 km diameter. Its owner, Carlos Matus, says that the project focuses on improving the executive cab service currently offered in the app, introducing new sustainable mobility services such as carpooling, trips with electric vehicles (electric motorboats, scooters, tuc-tucs), shipments/deliveries, freight, among others.

Jason Rojas, Operation Manager of CREV LATAM and third place winner, received an amount of US$3,000, which he will invest in the installation of at least 10 charging stations at strategic points in the interior of the country to promote the use of electric vehicles, allowing travel to tourist sites or commercial routes.

The award ceremony was attended by the Project Executive of CABEI's Office in Guatemala, Astrid Ibarra, and the European Union's Cooperation Representative in Guatemala, Ana María Peña; KfW's Local Representative in Guatemala, Manuel Lorenzana; and Nancy Chacón, President of AMEGUA. Representatives from the public and private sectors also participated and had the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the efforts of MSMEs that promote sustainable mobility in Guatemala.

This is the first edition of the contest, which was launched on March 19 and closed on June 9, with the participation of more than 40 MSMEs at the regional level, thus encouraging sustainable mobility in the region.