These are the 25 entrepreneurs from the Green MSMEs program who have moved on to the second phase of the Initiative and will present their sustainability projects.

Article originally published on INCAE's website on 04/11/2024. LACIF contributes to the Mipymes Verdes Initiative through an investment grant and technical assistance.

The program "MiPymes Verdes: building capacities for sustainable projects" selected the 25 businesswomen who will move on to the second phase, in which they will formulate a green project within their organization to improve its environmental impact. From their proposals, a panel of judges will select the six winners, who will receive a cash award of US$1,000 each to implement their projects.

Those selected were part of an initial group of 50 entrepreneurs who received hours of training and had access to a diagnosis of their potential in terms of strategy and sustainability. Starting in October, the selected entrepreneurs will begin the next phase of training that will provide them with tools for the development of their innovative idea, which they will present in person on the campus of INCAE Costa Rica.

This program is implemented by the Center for Inclusive and Sustainable Leadership (CELIS), with the support of the Green MSMEs II Initiative, a tripartite effort of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Government of Germany, through KfW, and the European Union.

Gabriela Lucke, director of CELIS, commented: "Implementing projects with a sustainable approach and complying with international regulations is becoming an increasing priority for companies wishing to compete in the global market. This program for women business leaders comes to prepare them and give them tools to face this challenge and encourage them to positively impact not only their companies, but also their communities and our region".

The MiPymes Verdes project is implemented through a "learning by doing" approach, including comprehensive training with teachers from INCAE, preparation for business strengthening, mentoring and tutoring.

The 25 selected businesswomen are:

Name of Businesswoman - Company - Country
Adriana Navarro Garro - Nutrelight - Costa Rica
Enid Abarca - Frutas DM SA - Costa Rica
Eugenia María Sánchez Solano - TERTULIA BRUGGE, S.A. - Costa Rica
Natalia Fonseca Soto - Tierra y Libertad Brewery - Costa Rica
Claudia Reyes de López - Grupo Imperion S.A. de C.V. - El Salvador
Claudia Roxana Garcia de Villalobos - Integral Services, S.A. de C.V. - El Salvador
Liza Núñez de Samayoa - Café L'Étranger - El Salvador
Marione Abularach Padilla - Biogreen Central America - El Salvador
Mónica Andrea Ríos Osorio - CONCEPTO CERO SA DE CV - El Salvador
Andrea Marie Boeufgras Barrios - Libella Nature's finest - Guatemala
Lorena Velásquez Vásquez - Factory - Guatemala
María Fernanda Rivera Dávila - Miriam's Flowers Farm, S.A. - Guatemala
Sofia del Cid - El Barretal - Guatemala
Zully Mariela Campos García - ZU Smart Furniture - Guatemala
Cristy Marcela Flores Raudales - Dex Chemical - Honduras
Jessica Aparicio - FRUITS AND DERIVATIVES APARIS - Honduras
Karen Pineda Garcia - Juarez Wines - Honduras
Rebeca Paz Mejía - Del Lago Organic - Honduras
Ceciles Santamaría Sandoval - ETA MOBILE - Nicaragua
Ingrid Soza Talavera - Nica Hands - Nicaragua
Juliette Ghatradyal Baumann - Om by Juliette - Nicaragua
Mayra Álvarez Porras - ECCORK - Nicaragua
Roxana Talavera Corea - Roxana Talavera "Leather made art". - Nicaragua
Kenelma Mendoza - Accento Incentives, S. A. - Panama
Mireya Concepción Rodríguez - Santa Elena Sustainable Production Farm - Panama