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Launch of two AL-INVEST Verde projects and commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Eurochile Foundation

The AL-INVEST Verde programme is a European Union initiative that seeks to foster economic, social and environmental integration between Europe and Latin America through the promotion of sustainable business development projects. The programme is focused on strengthening the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt sustainable practices and green technologies.

In the case of Chile, the programme is focused on promoting innovation and green entrepreneurship, as well as fostering competitiveness and access to new markets for SMEs. To achieve this, various activities will be carried out, such as training, consultancy and networking between companies, with the aim of enhancing their participation in the European market.

In this context, next Tuesday 23rd May at 08:30 hrs at the NH Collection Plaza Santiago hotel, two projects will be launched as part of the AL- INVEST Verde programme, which are focused on sustainability and circular economy applied to the construction and fruit sectors, projects that Eurochile Business Foundation will execute with its European partners Eurecat from Catalonia, Promos from Italy and Agropolis from France.

This event will bring together national authorities and European experts who will present different approaches and new trends that are being used on the other side of the continent with respect to the area of fruit growing and construction. In addition, this activity will be part of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Eurochile and its business cooperation between Chile and the European Union (EU).

Frederic Clarens, director of the Waste, Energy and Environmental Impact Unit at Eurecat, the leading entity of the project for the construction sector that will seek to articulate and develop sustainable business models led by MSMEs, highlights that the Spanish entity, through this project, seeks to “fundamentally accelerate the transition of the construction sector towards the circular economy. To this end, we will analyse the state of the sector and international best practices, promote the exchange of knowledge between MSMEs and at the same time increase their technological capabilities.

While, for the fruit sector, led by the Eurochile Business Foundation, José Aravena, Executive Director of the Foundation, explains that, “the AL-INVEST Verde programme allows the development of SMEs and EOs to expand their marketing possibilities under the new standards of European regulations. Our Chilean-European team will carry out a plan for these groups of companies to address these gaps and become more and more circular and sustainable. The aim is also that the participating companies are trained and empowered with all the necessary materials so that they can continue with this process.

Also, Raffaello Benetti, Head Global Network & Tourism Program Promos Italy, highlights that, “the participation of Promos as an implementing partner in the project is of great importance, as it allows us to help the technical and commercial growth of companies in the Italian and Chilean agricultural sector to support them to have greater commercial exchanges between them”.

In addition, Sabrina Deforge, Head of Innovation at Agrópolis International recognises the importance of international collaboration in solving global agricultural challenges, as by working with European and Chilean partners, the organisation can benefit from diverse perspectives and knowledge from different regions, which can lead to innovative and sustainable solutions.

Fostering collaboration and sustainable development between Europe and Chile

Eurochile Business Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 1993, based in Santiago de Chile, whose main objective has been to strengthen commercial, economic and technological relations between the EU and Latin America.

In addition, Eurochile works in key areas such as investment promotion and multinational business development, knowledge and technology transfer between European and Chilean companies, networking and business partnerships.

The organisation also has a wide network of business and governmental contacts in Europe and Latin America, as well as a team of specialists in areas such as business management, foreign trade, circular economy and sustainable development.

Eurochile’s Foundation activities include organising trade fairs and business meetings, advising companies on internationalisation, training programmes and research and development projects.

In this way, José Aravena, Executive Director of Eurochile Business Foundation, adds that, “the Foundation is an Institution with purposes and meanings that seeks to contribute to the development of Chile through what we can do in favour of small and medium enterprises, a very varied work but aligned with the objectives of the European Union in the framework of the pathways to a model of circular and environmentally sustainable growth”.

In short, Eurochile Business Foundationis an international organisation that seeks to promote the economic and business development of Chile and Europe through innovative and collaborative projects.

Invitation to AL- INVEST Green Launch

The Eurochile Business Foundation is pleased to invite you to the launch of two projects that are part of the EU AL-INVEST Green Programme, which are focused on sustainability and circular economy applied to the construction and fruit sectors, projects that we will execute together with our European partners Eurecat from Catalonia, Promos from Italy and Agropolis from France.

This activity is also part of the activities to commemorate the 30 years of existence of our Foundation. On this occasion, in addition to presenting the Al Invest projects, we will talk about these 30 years of Chile-EU business cooperation. The event will take place next Tuesday 23 May at 08:30hrs at the NH Collection Plaza Santiago hotel, Av. Vitacura 2610, Las Condes.

This meeting is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the Foundation’s commitment and its work for economic and commercial integration between Europe and Chile, in line with the values of sustainability and environmental protection.

In addition, the launch of the AL-INVEST Green programme aims to boost the development of sustainable projects in the business sector and expand sustainable business opportunities between the two regions.

Please find attached the programme of the event: Programme 23rd May

To participate in the event

MSMEs and entrepreneurs, register here

Entities, academia and organisations, register here

For more information write to info@eurochile.cl or call 2 2787 8400.

 

#EUROCHILECIRCULAR

Successful results of the Key Energy 2023 Business Mission: Chilean entrepreneurs establish links with European companies and strengthen alliances for future projects

The Key Energy Fair is an international event, where leading renewable energy companies come together to present their technology breakthroughs and innovative strategies. The fair focuses on renewable energies such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass, simultaneously, conference sessions and discussions on current and future trends in the field of renewable energy are available, held last March 22-24 in Rimini, Italy.

This event of great international connotation allows to generate a dialogue so that actors and leaders of the sector can share and promote collaboration and business opportunities between companies, institutions and communities interested in sustainable energy and environmental protection. The objective of this trip is to provide companies with the tools to be leaders in innovation and promotion of sustainable development.

In this sense, Eurochile Foundation was in charge of organising the “Key Energy 2023 Business Mission”, so that SMEs in the sector could participate, so among the list of entrepreneurs who benefited from this opportunity were Alejandro Coll, Engineering Manager of Smartclarity; Rodrigo Paredes, Executive Director of the MERIC Technology Centre; Pablo Millar, Engineering Manager of Synertec and Hermés Silva, General Manager of Energy Tracking, who represented each of their companies.

For this reason, the Business Cooperation team met with the entrepreneurs after the Key Energy 2023 trip, where they shared the experiences they had with their European counterparts, the new technologies and trends that are taking place in the renewable energy ecosystem and presented the future projects they are carrying out.

In this regard, Alejandro Coll and Rodrigo Paredes highlighted the good organisation that Eurochile Business Foundation had in this trip, as well as the pleasant disposition of Andrea Batazzi, representative of MultiRep Services and Ecomondo in Latin America, who accompanied and guided the entrepreneurs during their stay in Italy.

In addition, Alejandro and Rodrigo announced that both are in talks with European companies for future projects, as detailed by Smartclarity’s Engineering Manager, “we got visits in several Italian companies, they showed us all the facilities, it was a good networking opportunity, one of them offered us the exclusive distribution for Chile and Colombia of their products, so we are at the stage of trade agreements, as there is a great interest from both parties in being able to carry out projects in the future”.

In short, this mission was another opportunity for Eurochile Foundation to open new business opportunities in the domestic market. For this reason, it is expected that, in the next editions of the mission, more Chilean enterprises will join this initiative and expand their commercial horizons to the European market.

9 May: Europe Day

Europe Day is celebrated on 9 May in commemoration of a speech by Robert Schuman, who was France’s Foreign Minister in 1950. On that occasion, Schuman proposed a new form of political cooperation in Europe that would make war between the continent’s nations impossible. Since then, the day has been celebrated throughout Europe with a variety of activities aimed at promoting European culture and identity, as well as reflecting on the challenges and achievements of the European Union today.

The aim of Europe Day is to foster unity, peace and solidarity among European nations and their citizens by promoting agreements and policies for the common benefit of all.

More than €1 million will go to boost green economy projects in Chile

The programme – through the implementation of its Component 1 – selected 24 projects from the 136 proposals received during the First Call for Proposals from all over Latin America. In Chile, three projects will be implemented focusing on the transition towards low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular business models that will benefit Chilean MSMEs in the fruit, construction and e-commerce industries.

“SMEs are key actors for the sustainable development of economies due to their high potential to respond to market needs, generate employment and allow access to better living conditions. From AL-INVEST Verde we manage funds for the financing of projects that seek to benefit SMEs and at the same time expand their possibilities to trade under EU standards, giving them a competitive advantage,” said Irene Haddad, Team Leader of Component 1 of AL-INVEST Verde.

The entities responsible for the implementation of the projects are Eurochile Business Foundation, Eurecat and the Santiago Chamber of Commerce. These institutions representing the private sector also signed a commitment to promote the development of the green economy, working together with the European Union.

Throughout its implementation, the programme will provide training, technical assistance, trade promotion activities, networking and other actions to contribute to the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs in the region.

“The EU is committed to green transition issues and we have been working hand in hand with partner countries such as Chile. Latin America is a very important region for the achievement of sustainable development. The implementation of a programme such as AL-INVEST Verde contributes to the achievement of the 2030 climate goals, taking into account the European Green Pact and promoting actions to facilitate sustainable investments”, said León de la Torre, Ambassador of the European Union in Chile.

Vicente Caruz of Eurochile emphasised the importance of the green transition of SMEs in the Chilean fruit sector. “Our project aims to disseminate, promote and implement methodologies and good practices in MSMEs and Business Organisations so that they can move towards more sustainable and circular agri-food systems, in order to meet the new sustainability requirements of the markets”.

On the other hand, Eurecat as an executing institution aims to develop sustainable business models in the construction sector. “We aim to strengthen the linkage of MSMEs and their business organisations related to the construction sector that have or seek to have a sustainable product offer, through training and the promotion of increasingly environmentally friendly practices,” said Carmen Dueñas, Executive Director for Latin America at Eurecat.

Carlos Soublette, General Manager of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce, explained the importance of developing new innovative models for packaging, which today is generating a significant amount of waste following the e-commerce boom. “Our project seeks efficiency. We want to promote and develop more innovative business models that allow us to reduce the negative environmental impact of e-commerce,” he said.

The AL-INVEST Verde programme is implemented throughout Latin America and has allocated more than nine million euros to support projects benefiting SMEs in the region.

About AL-INVEST Verde

AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 1, the programme manages funds for the implementation of innovative projects of small business associations to promote sustainable practices in the private sector. Component 1 is led by sequa, a German non-profit organisation operating worldwide with the aim of promoting the private sector.

Further information: www.alinvest-verde.eu

Meeting of ideas and sustainable projects: Eurochile authorities meet with entrepreneurs participating in the Ecomondo Business Mission & Key Energy 2022

During 2022 Eurochile Business Foundation supported entrepreneurs in the field of sustainability and circular economy who were interested in participating in the Ecomondo & Key Energy Business Mission, an event that took place at the Rimini Exhibition Centre, Italy, dedicated to the environment and sustainable energy.

Ecomondo focuses on waste, water and soil management and treatment, energy efficiency in industrial processes and resource recovery, and is an international trade fair with a special focus on the European market. Key Energy, on the other hand, focuses on renewable energies and energy efficiency in buildings and transport. There, exhibitors present technologies and solutions for solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and other energy sources. Innovations in energy storage and sustainable mobility will also be highlighted.

The entrepreneurs who participated in the business mission included Cristián Morales of Espyral, Bárbara Bernucci of Consorcio Santa Marta, Hugo Muñoz of Ecología en tu Barrio Compostera, Juan Carlos Bello of Bellbast Chile LTDA, Álvaro Tapia of Rubtec SpA, Ricardo Dottone of Comercializadora Agrícola y Forestal Pinares Limitada and Margarita Sepúlveda of ITE Tecnología.

For this reason, Eurochile authorities had a meeting with the entrepreneurs, where they were able to exchange experiences and future projects inspired by the new technologies applied to sustainability and circular economy that were part of the Ecomondo & Key Energy 2022 Business Mission, where participants had the opportunity to generate links with European companies in order to replicate various projects in Chile.

Juan Carlos Bello of Bellbast Chile says that “we are currently in talks with an Italian company, exchanging knowledge and trying to visualise what they are doing so that we can replicate it in Chile and seek efficiency in electronic waste”.

Also, Barbara Bernucci from Consorcio Santa Marta, adds that, “I saw many interesting things with the theme of our company that has to do with household waste, and it is impressive to see how advanced they are in other countries compared to what we have here in Chile regarding the circular economy”.

On the other hand, the experience of being able to exchange ideas and information at the different stands of the fair, sharing and visiting other companies, is fundamental to broaden the vision of entrepreneurs in terms of future projects for their company, as Hugo Muñoz of Ecología en tu Barrio, points out that, “it was a very interesting and positive experience to be able to go around and assess what was being done with various topics of interest, the new ways of carrying out innovation and addressing the environmental problems that the country has and to make contact with other companies to be able to develop projects for the future“.

Likewise, Cristian Morales of Espyral, points out that, “going with the Eurochile mission allowed us to be accompanied and to take advantage of field visits, where we met municipal and local waste managers that allowed us to have a broader vision, especially on the subject of waste management in Italy, which is more developed than our country”.

In this sense, this trip meant several opportunities both for the entrepreneurs and for Eurochile Foundation, so this allows to show the different actions that can be generated in terms of synergy between the different companies from both continents, as Margarita Sepúlveda from ITE Tecnología shares, “very grateful for everything that Eurochile Foundation gave us to appreciate the advances that had a great impact and to replicate it in the companies and institutions with everything shown in the Ecomondo fair”.

Similarly, Ricardo Dottone from Forestal Pinares, adds that, “I would like to thank Eurochile for the cordiality, willingness and openness to take me to this meeting, the visit to the fair was very instructive and enriching regarding the different matters that have to do with circular economy, which opened a window for me to try some kind of business”.

One of the main objectives of the Eurochile Business Foundation is to build links with different European companies so that SMEs can find companies of the same interest and work together. In this aspect, Vicente Caruz, President of the Foundation, states that, “Eurochile’s mission is to try to bring together the advances in organisational and technological matters of small and medium-sized European companies with Chilean companies, which is why we were able to carry out this concrete action with the Ecomondo & Key Energy 2022 business mission, as Italy is a living example of how to work together with companies in the sector”, says Caruz.

In short, the Ecomondo and Key Energy 2022 Business Mission is an instance where Eurochile is present and helps entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises in Chile to create links with European companies, so that they can learn about the various technological innovations in the field and what is being carried out with respect to sustainability and circular economy.  For this reason, Eurochile Foundation expects that this year it will be able to add 20 SMEs throughout the country so that they can obtain the benefits that Ecomondo 2023 brings with it.

The Circular Economy as a tool for a sustainable future

The production and consumption of natural resources has increased significantly over the last 50 years, mainly due to improved quality of life and population growth. Production and consumption patterns in today’s society are based on the traditional linear economy model, where raw materials are extracted, then transformed into products for different uses until they are finally discarded as waste, without taking into account the environmental footprint and its consequences.

The linear economy is a completely unsustainable model in a finite world of limited resources and is largely responsible for climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion. In contrast, the circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves reusing, repairing, renewing and recycling existing materials and products as often as necessary to create added value. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.

In this regard, the European Union presented an action plan for the Circular Economy in 2020, which aims to create more sustainable products, reduce waste and empower citizens to move towards a carbon neutral, sustainable and circular economy by 2050. In this respect, the European Commission has been tasked with implementing these measures to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

In relation to this, Linnet Solway, a French Circular Economy expert, was interviewed and gave an insight into how the different action plans that the EU has implemented in the last period to be one of the world leaders in Circular Economy are being carried out.

In that sense, Linnet mentions that action plans in Europe will change depending on where one is located, as there is a difference between Eastern and Western Europe, since some countries have a higher economic income than the rest, so they can manage projects more efficiently, while others are much more backward because their current realities can be affected by political, economic and social problems, causing them not to be able to keep up with the legislation implemented by the European Commission.

On the other hand, product consumption is one of the second most important factors affecting the carbon footprint, with 55% coming from energy sources and 45% from the use and consumption of materials. The European Commission is trying to make changes, such as empowering consumers through strategies for responsible and green consumption, where they can repair and remanufacture their products without having to throw them away, so it is expected that companies will have to change their strategies and provide physical and digital tools to carry out this process.

Related to that, there is also the implementation of secondary raw materials, a process that involves processors in reducing, repairing and remanufacturing various discarded products, giving them a second useful life.

In this sense, the European expert states that, “there are various techniques for recycling materials, but if there is no company willing to buy this secondary raw material and add it to its products, there is no point in carrying out this process, which is why it is very important to break the loop of the linear economy. To do this, the raw material has to be brought back to the market, at an attractive price, so that demand for it can increase.

However, a large percentage of European companies have been implementing this circular economy model for years, so, at present, there are indicators that measure the functionality of this model for each individual, but the effectiveness of this monitoring must be taken into account, for this reason, Linnet, details that, “it is complex to define indicators that are for everyone, because it is difficult to compare the implementations that a company has with those of an individual. In terms of Circular Economy indicators, what is really useful for a company is to implement a baseline and compare itself“.

However, by bringing the circular model to Chile, there is a small percentage of companies that have implemented it, so it is expected that in the near future there will be an increase in the use of the Circular Economy, in that sense, the European expert, argues that, “Chile is doing well, at least there is a real intention and a boost from the central and regional government, also, Corfo helps with funds to encourage medium and large companies towards a Circular Economy. In that sense, it is already in the minds of companies and people“.

Ultimately, caring for the environment is a shared responsibility and it is necessary to recognise that our daily actions directly affect the planet’s natural resources and biodiversity. We must therefore take concrete steps to protect the environment and combat climate change.

That said, this transformation towards a circular economy has a positive impact on the environment, as it helps to reduce waste production, pollution, energy and material consumption. In addition, it creates opportunities for job creation and the development of new technologies.

 

Murcia Food Brokerage Event 2023: Technological Innovation for the Food Industry

The XI Edition of Murcia Food Brokerage Event 2023, is an event organised by the Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia in collaboration with the Centro Tecnológico Nacional de la Conserva y Alimentación (CTC) within the framework of the European Enterprise Europe Network, which will present the latest developments in the field of food technology, providing companies from different European countries with an excellent opportunity to hold bilateral meetings aimed at establishing technological cooperation agreements. Participation is open to companies, universities, technology centres and research institutes from all over Europe requesting and offering advanced or innovative food technologies.

Within the framework of the business roundtable, the XI International Symposium on Agri-Food Technology will be held in parallel – on 11 May in a face-to-face format – with the aim of promoting the transfer of cutting-edge technology for companies in the sector; to this end, important national and international technologists have been invited to share their knowledge and experiences with the attendees.

The eleventh edition of the Murcia Food Brokerage Event will focus on highly relevant topics such as Hygienic design of facilities and food safety, Biotechnology, Circular Economy, Conservation Technology (Active and Intelligent Packaging), Hydraulic technologies in the food sector and Automation and control processes.

The Brokerage Event will be held in person on 11 and 12 May and for those companies that are unable to travel or book face-to-face meetings, there is the possibility of joining virtually on 15 and 16 May.

Why participate?

The objective of this meeting is to provide companies with spaces for cooperation and networking, to access new markets, to generate alliances and agreements, and to find international partners for future projects. To participate in this event, please register at the following link: https://murciafood2023.b2match.io/

The platform is now open for registration until 9 May 2023 and is free of charge. The only requirement is to register and complete a profile in English with the company’s details and indicate the type of opportunity required or offered. Eurochile accompanies the entire process and, for any queries, please contact Manuela Caruz, Director of International Networks at mcaruz@eurochile.cl or contact the foundation www.eurochile.cl .

Eurochile Business Foundation invites European buyers to participate in the Virtual Space “Fair Trade in Chile and its relations with Europe” to promote the market of the food and craft industry

In the framework of the update of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Chile, the European Commission finances the project “Fair Trade in Chile and its relations with Europe” – led by the international consultancy SOFRECO – focused on fair trade, organic production in Chile and fair and sustainable trade relations of these items with European countries.

The Foundation, together with SOFRECO, invites you to participate in the Virtual Space on “Fair Trade in Chile and its relations with Europe 2023”, a unique opportunity to network, generate future collaborations, identify market opportunities and do business, with a focus on sustainability.

This instance will allow Chilean producers to connect with European importers in one place. It is a quick and easy way to meet partners in Europe and establish the first connections for future collaborations.

The specific objectives of this project focus on promoting the opportunities offered by the modernisation of the Agreement, promoting fair and sustainable trade in support of Chilean producers with a high social impact, and publicising the benefits of the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Organic Products between the European Union to strengthen business cooperation between Europe and Chilean SMEs.

In this sense, SOFRECO has been awarded this project and has assigned a team of professionals in Chile to carry out studies on the the state of the art of fair trade in Chile and trends in trade relations with European countries, as well as on organic production and the current challenges of exporting under the new EU organic regulation. Also, to be able to organise workshops and matchmaking or B2B activities between fair trade and organic producers and potential buyers from the European Union through virtual spaces.

How to participate?

Chilean companies producing agricultural and artisanal products and European buyers of the same products are invited to participate.  If you meet these requirements, you must enter and register at the following link: https://b2b-comercio-justo-en-chile.b2match.io/

For more information, please contact Manuela Caruz at mcaruz@eurochile.cl

This business networking event will be open from 01 April to 31 July 2023.

Members of the Circular Economy Working Group learned about the different sustainable approaches promoted in Europe

The European Circular Economy Conference brought together experts, industry representatives, non-governmental organisations and policy makers from the European Union (EU) to discuss strategies and solutions for the transition to a sustainable circular economy in Europe.

During the conference, initiatives related to the circular economy implemented in different countries were explored, such as the reduction of waste and emissions; the reuse and recycling of materials; the economy of resources and innovation in waste management, key points of the conference to meet the objectives for a more responsible and sustainable economy.

Linnet Solway, European expert, had the opportunity to attend the conference and the different activities that were focused on sustainability, biodiversity and climate. In this context, last Monday 27 March, at the first meeting of the 2023 Circular Economy Working Group of the Eurochile Business Foundation, she told the participating entrepreneurs about the main points that were addressed in this instance so that the European Union can improve certain points on good practices towards to circular economy.

“One of the initiatives, mentioned at the two-day conference, that are under development, is energy reduction and efficiency, decarbonisation that companies have adopted, the use of safe and sustainable chemicals, among other decisions that are part of the commission.  However, there are standards that need to be followed up in the implementation process, as well as the perceived differences in equality with regard to the circular economy between Eastern and Western Europe”, Solway said.

Chilean entrepreneurs and the circular economy

At the meeting were representatives Roberto Ravanales from ICP Ingeniería; Ximena Guerra from Indunext; Sergio Ascenso from VDG Ingeniería; Hugo Muñoz from Ecología en tu Barrio and Juan Saavedra with Hernán Portales from Megaplásticos, who shared in this space different views on what is being done in terms of circular economy in 2023.

In this sense, Sergio Ascenso, representative of VDG Ingeniería, tells us that his expectations of being included in future projects of the foundation, is to be able to make relationships between companies that are related to the business idea that VDG Ingeniería has, and also to have the opportunity to be known and share different points of view with their peers in the field.

While Hugo Muñoz, representative of Ecología en tu barrio, has had the opportunity to include Eurochile in his company, he says that, “I have had the opportunity to generate some instances of participation in various activities that have relevance around what is the circular economy and sustainability. Thanks to Eurochile, I also had the opportunity to attend Ecomundo 2022, which was a positive experience for our company, as well as highlighting the trust and closeness that the foundation gives us to generate creative results in terms of sustainability cases”.

In conclusion, the entrepreneurs have gained knowledge of the different topics that are being promoted in Europe on the circular economy, which will allow them to implement various strategies in their companies to reduce their environmental impact and promote these initiatives in their environment and continue moving towards a more sustainable future.