• Competitions will benefit 65 small and medium enterprises.

San Jose, March 18, 2020. Today, after having had an impact on more than 120 companies, the Green Growth program and the DISCOVER program launched their IV and II call for national SMEs interested in a productive transformation to participate in a competition for non-reimbursable funds. The objective of this transformation is to increase competitiveness, diversification and facilitate the access of more Costa Rican products to international markets.

The competitions, promoted by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER), in conjunction with strategic alliances with entities such as the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the Costa Rican USA Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Banking System (SBD) aim to benefit a total of 65 small and medium-sized companies.

The “Green Growth” program seeks to improve the environmental sustainability profile and the export capacity of SMEs.  Simultaneously, “Discover” is an inter-institutional program for the diversification of agriculture, fisheries, and the attraction of investments in rural areas.

The Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Duayner Salas Chaverri, commented that “the unification of these programs fills the foreign trade sector with pride, because it clearly portrays our interest in helping Costa Rican companies become more competitive and reach their maximum potential. The DISCOVER and Green Growth programs allow us to promote productive transformation, beyond company and producer growth, providing companies with sustainability from the environmental, social and economic perspectives.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for the agricultural sector that has opted for sustainable and environmentally responsible production systems, wagering on innovation and technology, for a production that is more efficient and in accordance with the demands of national and international markets. I invite the sector to submit their initiatives and compete for these resources that represent an option for transformation and improvement of competitiveness,” said the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Ana Cristina Quirós Soto.

Pedro Beirute Prada, General Manager at PROCOMER, added that “95% of our business park are SMEs, and we want many of them to become exporters.”

Competition dynamics

Those interested can participate with projects that require technical advice, the acquisition of equipment, certifications, innovations, and others. In this case, the winners will obtain non-reimbursable financing for up to 80% of the development of their project.  The amount per project varies based on category, and the maximum amount financed is $15,000.

Requirements to participate

• Be an SME.
• Be up to date with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund.
• Be up to date with tax obligations with the Ministry of Finance.
• Be up to date with operating permits from the Ministry of Health, municipal patents or any other permits necessary for the operation of the business.
• Complete the “PROCOMER exporter diagnosis” and be an exporter, or a potential exporter.

Companies interested in participating must submit their projects before April 17 through the application platform available at www.crecimientoverdecr.com or http://www.descubre.cr/,  where information can also be found regarding the programs, Operating Bases, and Rules and Conditions for the competitions.

To learn more about Green Growth, please send an e-mail to crecimientoverde@procomer.com or call 4505-4909. To learn more about  Discover, please send an e-mail to descubre@procomer.com or call 4505-4917.

Green Growth success stories

• Astek: works on the implementation of a rainwater harvesting system, achieving a 20% reduction in water use. In addition, it is the first Costa Rican “Carbon Neutral Plus” company.
• Exportagri: its project is the implementation of a drying system lined with insulating panels and wind curtains, as well as obtaining the essential Costa Rica Country Brand license and Carbon Neutral certification. They have already achieved a 48% (LPG) and 20% (Kwh) reduction in energy. Economic savings: $18.2K.
• Chocolates Fusión: is implementing a solar drying system for cocoa that ensures the quality and commercial differentiation of the product. It won the international “Energy Globe National Award” and increased productivity, going from drying 200kg of beans in 15 days to 600 kg in 12 days.
• Melones de la Península: implements the automation of greenhouse irrigation with intelligent controllers and valves based on climate data. They have achieved a 50% reduction in water and was the 1st Costa Rican company to export organic cantaloupe and watermelon to Europe.

Discover success stories

• Elixir Tropical: is a micro-business located in Lepanto, Puntarenas, dedicated to the production of pitahaya and other products such as moringa and acerola. With the funds provided by the Discover Program, it has purchased the equipment need for a pitahaya pulp processing plant, with which they want to venture into the production of by-products of the fruit, as well as the development of energy drinks.  The company is currently in the last stage of the project.

• La Vaca Muca: a micro-company located in Upala, San Carlos, dedicated to the plantation of fine and aromatic cocoa and the production of by-products such as chocolate bars. With Discover Program funds provided by the Development Banking System, the company implemented the adaptation of an electric cocoa dryer to a gas drying system, with which it plans to go from using 50% of cocoa on the plantation to a utilization of 90%, which has not been possible due to the high humidity in the grain. The company has already completed its project.

VIDEO OF SUCCESS STORIES.