Published Thursday, February 27, 2020

Open call for Green Growth Program


By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Green Growth is a program that provides funds to exporters, funded by the Costa Rican USA Foundation for Cooperation, CRUSA and the Inter-American Development Bank, among other institutions with the goal of diversification of agriculture and the attraction of investments in rural areas.

Tuesday, companies benefiting from the funds presented their progress. Among these are Café Sol Naciente in Dota in the area called Los Santos, the Ujarrás Products company in Cartago, the Sembrarte company in Sarapiquí in Heredia and the businessman Erick Monge Jiménez in Vara Blanca.

Café Sol Naciente is dedicated to coffee production. The program financed the installation of a low-emission production plant, as well as obtaining the Essential Costa Rica brand.

With the processing plant 100% of solid waste use is expected, a reduction in emissions due to transport (reduction in gasoline), and impact in the area as other producers can use this plant and avoid transfers to Cartago for the process, authorities said.

The other company, Productos Ujarrás is a producer of jams. The program financed the project of a full waste management plan, identification of environmental impacts and carbon neutral certification, which is expected to impact the indicators of waste management, 75% energy reduction and 5% reduction and compensation of emissions.

The Sembrarte company is a producer of ornamental plants and the program financed the implementation of greenhouses for the production and care of the plants, which is expected to increase the production capacity from 500 to 420,000 units.

The entrepreneur, Erick Monge-Jiménez is a strawberry producer and his project is a strawberry hydroponics production, the result of which would be the reduction of the use of the water resource to increase productivity.

The Green Growth program has made three calls in which 126 companies have been chosen to support diversification projects. $1.5 million in nonrefundable funds have been approved.

According to the program, of the first 26 companies chosen, the following results have been obtained:

In terms of environment, the carbon footprint has been reduced by 405.81 tons of CO2. This is due to the reduction of water use, reduction of emissions, improvements in waste management, reduction of electrical energy use and use of renewable energy.

Concerning  competitiveness, savings were recorded in the production processes of $57,072. Giving an investment return result of 20% in three months.

According to the authorities, exports grew by 23% between 2017 and 2018.

March 18 is the launch of the next call to participate in the Green Growth program.

Companies or entrepreneurs can participate to receive technical advice, equipment acquisition, certifications, innovations, among others.

Winners will obtain financing of up to 80% non-refundable for the development of their company.

The amount varies according to the category being $15,000 the maximum amount financed.

To participate, entrepreneurs must meet the following requirements:

- Be registered as a small or medium business, SMEs.

- Have Social Security.

- Have operating permits from the Ministry of Health, local municipality or any other necessary for the operation for the business.

Other requirements to apply for Green Growth Program benefits can be requested at CRUSA Foundation.

This week CRUSA and the German agency for development and cooperation, GIZ, announced two funds for financing innovative projects for the management of solid waste.



This second competition call will be open until March 25.

According to CRUSA, the funds are created with the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety of Germany and the Climate Change Directorate of the Ministry of Environment of Costa Rica.

The funds will choose the companies or entrepreneurs that win economic support for their projects through a public tender, aimed at municipalities, civil society organizations, as well as business sector projects and public-private partnerships.

The contest includes two categories:

- Projects with an impact on municipalities could receive between $40,000 up to a cap of $80,000. This is aimed at municipalities, communities and/or public-private partnerships.

- Projects of business innovation or local associations could receive between $5,000 up to a limit of $8,000, directed to small and medium enterprises and local associations.

To compete in the municipal category, a proposal for a solid and innovative project must be submitted with an elaborated budget reflecting a counterpart of at least 50% of the value of the project. This as an indispensable requirement, said CRUSA.

For the business category, a counterpart of 20% of the project value must be reflected. Also, criteria such as the solution to a specific problem in the environment, replicability in other contexts, reduction of measurable greenhouse gases and the incorporation of elements that provide sustainability of the initiative over time will be evaluated.

The fund is part of a project called TRANSFORMA (transform in English language) of CRUSA, GIZ and the ministry, which has the goal to improve the management of solid waste in the municipalities through the strengthening of municipal capacities through technical assistance and the reduction of greenhouse gases, including selective collection systems, solid waste treatment and recovery, articulation with the business sector and the promotion of citizen participation.

To learn more about the contest requirements visit the CRUSA site.

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Have you heard of any exporter who is looking for financing?
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