Ceremony celebrates PROMES project’s closing
This past Friday, October 19, a closing ceremony on EARTH University’s campus celebrated the achievements of Promoting Sustainable Marketing for Small Rural Producers in Costa Rica (PROMES, in Spanish).
Words from Luis Suárez Carreño, General Coordinator of AECID and the Technical Office of Cooperation in Costa Rica
The PROMES project, financed principally with funds from the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID), formed part of the actions agreed upon in the IV Mixed Commission signed between the Spanish and Costa Rican governments in 2007. EARTH University was in charge of leading the project’s management, with continuing collaboration from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle and the Costa Rican Tourism’s regional offices. Other influential institutions in the area also assisted, including the Mixed Institute for Social Aid, the National Training Institute and the Institute for Agrarian Development, among others.
Words from Professor Irmino Perera of the PROMES Project.
The project helped strengthen the local economic fabric of the cantons of Los Chiles, Upala, Guatuso, Sarapiquí and Pococí in multiple ways: through providing training sessions, technical assistance, financial resources, equipment and infrastructure improvement. All of the project’s actions were designed to boost the agro-food chains of organic and sustainable pineapple, pepper and cocoa, and to strengthen rural tourism and biocommerce initiatives.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony. Those present represented hundreds of the families and enterprises the project benefited. Also in attendance were the leaders of the main public institutions involved and representatives from the businesses that supported PROMES’ work throughout the four years. The general coordinator of the AECID’s Technical Office of Cooperation was also present.
Attendees at the PROMES Closing Ceremony
Each person who spoke of PROMES recognized its very positive economic impact and its effectiveness in enhancing the competitiveness of the supported enterprises.
