USAID ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT El Salvador exists in an increasingly competitive globalized world:
Let’s work for a more productive and prosperous country! The USAID Economic Competitiveness Project is a five-year (2017-2022) initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which seeks to strengthen the capabilities of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to increase the country´s competitiveness, expanding
Support the creation of opportunities and jobs in the country
Significantly expand exports by diversifying products into new markets
competition in the domestic and export markets. The project aims to benefit companies with export potential, encouraging job creation and economic growth, and promoting partnerships between the private sector, national and local governments, universities, and civil society organizations.
Build commercial, institutional, and systemic sustainability
Contribute through economic development to prosperity and reduction of violence
Ensure broad participation and strengthening of services at national and municipal level
Objectives
Strengthening MSMEs and the institutions that support them
Enabling a favorable business environment
Areas of Intervention 1. Strengthening business development services to MSMEs.
4. Greater access to finance for MSMEs. 5. Improvement of municipal services to companies.
2. Improving innovation and technology processes by MSMEs. 3. Expanded market access for MSMEs.
6. Simplification of policy, regulatory and procedural processes.
Our Partners
Means of intervention
Business Development Service Providers to MSMEs.
National and local government
MSMEs
Financial institutions
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Private sector institutions and academia
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Research Technical assistance Training Linkage of value chains Innovation and technology International promotion/marketing Access to finance and investment funds Reforms to policy, regulatory and procedural processes Solutions for young entrepreneurs, gender equity and inclusion of vulnerable groups Co-financing funds through competitive biddings Communications consulting Monitoring, evaluation and learning systems
Strategies of implementation 1. The project provides services to MSMEs in partnership with established public and private Business Development Service Providers (BDSP). 2. The project strengthens the Micro and Small Business Development Centers (CDMYPE) system and the Association of Institutions Operating CDMYPE (ACDMYPE) and includes CDMYPE and its clients in new supply/value chains linked to exporting.This system is an effective means of bringing services and incorporating tens of thousands of MSMEs into more productive processes and creating new, large-scale jobs. 3. Implementation of impact actions through proposals from BDSP partners, assigned through subcontracts or funds available through competitive biddings. 4. Development of a strong export culture in the country, as well as the means to allow broad participation of MSMEs in value chains. The expansion of exports, both regional and international, is a means to restore the sustainable growth of the Salvadoran economy.
5. Linking Salvadoran MSMEs with regional and international export markets, through facilitating national supply chains led by strong exporting companies. 6. Promoting public-private cooperation at the local level by linking the needs of companies and incorporating financial services as a means to boost economic activity in municipalities. 7. The project promotes regulatory reforms to foster a business-friendly environment focusing on economic sectors that impact the country’s competitiveness and supports existing public and private sector initiatives that promotes this business environment. 8. Promoting synergies among the project´s six areas of intervention: BDSP strengthening, innovation and technology, export marketing, finance, municipal services, and policy/regulatory/procedural reform.
USAID Economic Competitiveness Project Calle Los Bambúes y Calle los Abetos No 37-A, Colonia San Francisco, San Salvador, El Salvador. Chief of Party: Phil Rourk Phil.Rourk@thepalladiumgroup.com
Deputy Chief of Party: Diego Vergara Diego.Vergara@thepalladiumgroup.com