Program will be part of ConnectAmericas which registered 24,000 businesspeople in its first year
PANAMA CITY, Panama – On the occasion of the CEO Summit of the Americas, Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and top executives from Arcos Dorados, DHL, CISCO, Grupo BIMBO, Softtek, Grupo Britt and GeneXus announced their intention to collaborate in the design and implementation of the “Made in the Americas” program, an IDB-led effort to help small and medium sized businesses (SMB) enter into more demanding value chains.
The “Made in the Americas” program will be hosted within ConnectAmericas.com. ConnectAmericas is a social media platform for companies, where businesspeople can connect with potential clients, suppliers and investors from throughout the hemisphere, and access tools and practical information designed to help them carry out international transactions.
During its first year of operation, ConnectAmericas has been visited by more than 250,000 people from 170 countries and territories, and 24,000 businesspeople from 56 countries have created profiles on the platform.
Premium buyers participating in Made in the Americas will be able to publish procurement notices and requirements that can be seen by ConnectAmericas’ global audience of SMEs; send tailored messages to specific groups of companies within ConnectAmericas, based on their country of operations, industry, and size; and propose and produce, with the support of the IDB, content and learning materials to help increase the number of SMEs that can comply with the standards that large buyers require.
“To enter into international value chains, SMEs need to comply with stringent international standards and practices,” said Moreno, of the IDB. “By doing so, they become more competitive, and more likely to grow. This is relevant because SMEs are 90 percent of companies in our region and employ 50 percent of our workforce. Through this program, we are aiming to help these companies become more competitive and thus increase the positive impact they have on our economies,” he said.
Other large buyers interested in participating in the “Made in the Americas Program” should contact madeintheamericas@connectamericas.com.