Successful conclusion of the EU Technical Assistance contract for the "Support to improve competitiveness of MSMEs and Cooperatives" Program in Guatemala

OCA Global has successfully completed the EU-funded contract for Technical Assistance to the Program "Support for the improvement of competitiveness and trade capacity of MSMEs and Cooperatives" in Guatemala, which started in November 2017.

In the five years of implementation, OCA Global has provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala (MINECO), and to the EU Delegation in the country, in the management of the Program. The objective of the Program is to strengthen the capacities of public and private institutions so that MSMEs and cooperatives meet the requirements necessary to access formal local, regional and international markets.

Specifically, OCA Global has carried out technical and management capacity building activities for MINECO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAGA) and Public Health (MSPAS) and their corresponding agencies in the areas of Quality (Metrology, Standardization and Accreditation), Health and Phytosanitary, regulation, facilitation and trade promotion, which in turn serve MSMEs and cooperatives to improve their trade capacities. In addition, several cooperatives have been trained in European procedures to facilitate their effective participation in EU-financed subsidies under this Program, with the aim of better integrating them into value chains, fostering the creation of inclusive and sustainable businesses.

The MSMEs and Cooperatives Program was aligned with the priorities of the European Union's foreign policy, such as: gender equality policies, the pactoverde and the digital transition and the use of new technologies.

On October 6, 2022, the closing event of the Program was organized with the presence of the Minister of Economy, Mr. Janio Rosales; the Vice Minister of MSME Development, Mr. Fernando Escalante; the Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation in Guatemala, Mr. Alberto Cortezón, as well as institutional representatives from other ministries and the private sector, and consultants from OCA Global.