Nicaragua

• March 2004: CEGESTI signed a cooperation agreement with the Laboratorio de Tecnología de Alimentos from Nicaragua (LABAL) – member of the Development, Industry and Commerce Ministry (MIFIC) of its country. This agreement was signed with the objective of complementing both organizations’ efforts realized to support the Nicaraguan productive sector.
• April-December 2004: The implementation of the Integral Sustainable Development methodology began in the following companies:

                           -       Empresa de Alimentos Bavaria

                           -       Cooperativa Agroindustrial y Producción Nicarao R.L.

                           -       Restaurante Paladar

                           -       Dulcería El Carmen

                           -       Panadería Corazón de Oro

• December 2004: For the conclusion of these projects, an event was organized on December 10, 2004 to present the results attained with the implementation of this methodology. Further information at Success Cases.
• December 2004: The training “Adaptation and Development of Products for Exportation: an approach towards sustainable development” was provided to consultants of the Nicaraguan Exporters Association of Non-Traditional Products (APEN by its Spanish acronym).
• May 2006: CEGESTI signed a cooperation agreement with the Technological Innovation Support Project in Nicaraguan (PAIT) – which is part of the Development, Industry and Commerce Ministry (MIFIC) of this country. The agreement was signed with the objective of supporting PAIT’s practices in its training in topics of Good Manufacturing Practices and Cleaner Production at food establishments. For the learning to take place in a practical way, CEGESTI’s consultants are providing technical assistance to two Nicaraguan companies with accompaniment by PAIT technicians. This assistance will be extended until November 2006. The benefited enterprises are:

                                                                                                                                                        -     Industrias Alimenticias RODCEN

                            

                     -     LACTEOSSA

 Panama

• May 2004: CEGESTI signed a cooperation agreement with Panama’s National Private Enterprise Council (CONEP). This agreement was signed with the objective of complementing the efforts both organizations carry out to support the Panamanian productive sector.
• June 2004-July 2005: The implementation of the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism methodology was executed in the following companies:

                            -       Hotel Los Quetzales Lodge & Spa

                            -       Hotel Panamonte Inn & Spa

                            -       Hotel Coronado Golf & Beach Resort

• June 2004- July 2005: Also, the Integral Sustainable Development methodology was implemented in the following three companies:

                            -       Arte Tipo Comercial S.A. (ARTICSA)

                            -       Imprenta Hernández

                            -       Tropical de Alimentos S.A. (TROPIDALI)

• July 2005: The conclusion of these projects took place in July 2005. Further information at Success Cases.
• January – April 2005: The training “Adaptation and Development of Products for Exportation: an approach towards sustainable development” was provided to consultants at the Vice-Ministry of External Commerce (VICOMEX) and Panama’s Institute of Agricultural Practices Marketing (IMA).
• January-March 2006: Technical assistance was provided on the topics of Good Manufacturing Practices and Cleaner Production in two Panamanian food establishments. This project had the participation of three Panamanian consultants who strengthened their capacities in these two topics. The benefited enterprises were (see Success Cases) :

                       -      Niko´s Café

                                     -     Distribuidora Suira

 Costa Rica

• March 2004: CEGESTI signed a cooperation agreement with the Centre for Food Technology Research at the Universidad de Costa Rica (CITA-UCR). This agreement was signed with the objective of complementing the efforts both organizations realized to support the Costa Rican productive sector.
• August 2003- December 2005: The implementation of the Integral Sustainable Development methodology was implemented in the following companies:

                           -       Vegetales Fresquita

                           -       Grupo FEMA

                           -       Coopeleche R.L.

                           -       Coopagrimar R.L.

         Further information available at Success Cases.

• August 2004: Realization of “The International Workshop for High Performance Enterprises for Innovation and Sustainable Development”. International and national experts participated in this workshop.
• March 2005:  The training “Adaptation and Development of Products for Exportation: an approach towards sustainable development” was provided to consultants of consultants from the Costa Rican Chamber of Exporters (CADEXCO).
• January 2006: Technical assistance was provided to Etipres to develop is Sustainability Report based on the HIGH! Methodology – a guide for small and medium enterprises to present their economic, environmental and social results. The complete Sustainability Report may be found at Success Cases.
• March 2006: Training was furnished on the topic of ISO 26000 (Standard for Social Responsibility) by the Canadian consultant Robert White whose career boasts 20 years of consultancy experience in management systems, sustainable development and Corporate Social Responsibility (BRI International Inc.  www.bri.ca). Currently, he represents the Canadian Industrial sector before the commission that develops the ISO 26000 norm – which will be ready in 2008. These training sessions included the participation of entrepreneurs, NGOs, member of the ISO 26000 “mirror” committee in Costa Rica and consultants. Besides, visits to companies were executed to discuss the opportunities the incorporation of the norm will bring to their entrepreneurial strategy (see photographs of the Entrepreneurial Breakfast and Seminar).
• March 2006:  Technical assistance was completed for three Costa Rican companies on the implementation of Management Systems that would enable them to break barriers to export to countries with markets with sustainable characteristics. These enterprises and their corresponding management systems are: 

                         -      Coopedota R.L. (Integrated Quality-Environmental System, Certified ISO 9001-14001)

                         -      Calidad VET-Natu Fruit (Environmental System ISO 14001, not yet certified)

                         -       Ornamentales de Altura (MPS-ABC)

• May 2006: The second edition of “The International Workshop for High Performance Enterprises for Innovation and Sustainable Development” was held. In this workshop the following international experts participated:

                         -       Eusebio Gainza, LEIA (Spain)

                         -       Sergio Espinosa, GECYT (Cuba)

                         -       Rodolfo Faloh, GECYT (Cuba)

                          -     Jose Giral,  Mexican Center for Entrepreneurial Management (Mexico)

• June 2006: Beginning of Value Chain projects jointly with the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Corporation (PROCOMER) to strengthen the activities of the SMEs providers of goods and services in their relationship with the big client enterprises. A project was started in June, and three more will commence in August.  

Honduras

• April 2004: CEGESTI signed a cooperation agreement with the Honduran Consulting Center for Entrepreneurial Economic, Environmental and Local Development (CADEAL). This agreement was signed with the objective of complementing both organizations’ efforts done to support the Honduran productive sector.
• August 2004 – April 2005: Implementation of the Integral Sustainable Development methodology was accomplished in the following companies:

                           -       Concretos Eterna S.A. (CONETSA)

                           -       Industria Panavisión

                           -       Marroquinería Eugene´s

• April 2005: For the conclusion of these projects, an event was organized on April 21, 2005 to present the results attained with the implementation of this methodology. Further information at Success Cases.
• August 2005: The training “Adaptation and Development of Products for Exportation: an approach towards sustainable development” was provided for consultants at the Foundation for Exportations Investment and Development (FIDE).

El Salvador

• June 2005: Cooperation agreements were signed with the El Salvador’s Exporters Corporation (COEXPORT) and the Foundation for the Promotion of Competitiveness for El Salvador SMEs (CENTROMYPE) to provide training to the consultants in the topics related to Integral Sustainable development methodology (ISD). These were the training provided:

                           -       Efficient Productivity  

                           -       Cleaner Production

                           -       Enterprises Social Development

                            -      CAFTA: an opportunities instrument for sustainable products

• April 2005 – November 2005: The Integral Sustainable Development methodology (ISD) was implemented at the following companies:

                           -       Laboratorios Combisa

                           -       Fundación Cristiana para la Salud y la Naturaleza (FUCRISAN)

                           -       Global Food Services Corporation

                           -       Industrias Diversa S.A.

• November 2005: For the conclusion of these projects, jointly with the CENTROMYPE, an event was organized on November 22, 2005 to present the results attained with the implementation of this methodology; Salvadorian and Costa Rican presenters attended the activity (Event photographs). Further information at Success Cases.
• March 2005: The training “Adaptation and Development of Products for Exportation: an approach towards sustainable development” was provided to COEXPORT consultants.
• May 2006: CEGESTI signed a cooperation agreement with the Salvadorian Foundation for the Promotion of Competitiveness for SMEs (CENTROMYPE). This agreement was signed with the objective to support CENTROMYPE’s technician in their training on topics of Good Manufacturing Practices and Cleaner Production at food companies. For the learning to take place in a practical way, CEGESTI’s consultants are providing technical assistance to three Salvadorian companies with accompaniment by CENTROMYPE technicians. This assistance will be extended until November 2006. The benefited enterprises are:

                           -       Pan San Antonio

                           -      Pasteles de El Salvador

                           -      TROPIX

 Guatemala

                           -       Alimentos Campestres S.A.

                           -       DIMEGSA

                           -       Rest-o-Pan

                           -       Laboratorios Veterinarios (LAVET)

                           -       Hotel Villa Colonial

• June 2006: For the conclusion of these projects, an event was jointly organized with CentraRSE for June 7, 2006 to present the results attained with the implementation of this methodology; Guatemalan and Costa Rican presenters attended the activity (Event photographs). Further information at Success Cases.

Dominican Republic

• December 2005: The training “Adaptation and Development of Products for Exportation: an approach towards sustainable development” was provided to CODOPYME consultants. This activity took place on December 08, 2005.
• December 2005: CEGESTI signed a cooperation agreement with the Dominican Confederation of SMEs (CODOPYME)  with the objective of complementing the two organizations’ efforts realized to support the Dominican productive sector.
• January 2006: The implementation of the Integral Sustainable Development methodology (ISD) began in three Dominican enterprises:
•                            -       Arboleda CxA

                             -       Campolac

                             -       Taller Corporativo del Mueble