Call offers up to $130 million for MSMEs seeking quality certification to export

One of the biggest obstacles faced by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) when exporting is the international demand for quality certification.

In this process, many national products, although excellent, can be left out of the foreign market. So if you own a MSME and are interested in expanding your commercial reach beyond national borders, this information is of interest to you.

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The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism launched a call for MSMEs seeking quality certification to export. The selected companies may receive co-financing not exceeding $130 million.

In this article we tell you how you can participate.

Who can participate?

The call is aimed at MSMEs in the agri-food; agribusiness; manufacturing; fashion industry; plastics; chemicals; health sector industries; tourism; vehicles, ships and aircraft.

The selected companies may receive non-reimbursable co-financing to carry out the technical assistance activities necessary to obtain export quality certification.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism’s call for proposals, co-financing may not exceed 70% of the total value of the project and, in monetary terms, may not exceed $130 million.

Likewise, the Ministry informs that the quality certifications that apply “are only those required for the qualification or expansion of international markets”, as can be read in the call for proposals.

• MSMEs that apply to develop a quality certification project for exporting must meet the following requirements:
  • Be Colombian legal entities with at least two years of existence at the date of submission of the proposal.
  • Have the financial capacity to execute the proposal.
  • To have advanced the process of enlistment.
  • To complete the project of the call for proposals.
  • Not be in the process of liquidation.

What items can be co-financed for the quality certification process?

MSMEs may co-finance quality certification readiness services and quality certification services, including auditing and accreditation.

In the case of readiness services, companies may request resources to pay for laboratory tests, training courses and assistance.

In the case of quality certification services, MSMEs may request co-financing for the payment of the certification or recertification audit, and for the quality certification or recertification process.

Likewise, the call for proposals states that items such as market studies, project socialization or dissemination activities, fairs and events, credit approval studies, payment of databases, sector studies, basic or pure research, payment of liabilities (capital and interest), acquisition of raw materials, machinery and equipment, acquisition of furniture or real estate may not be co-financed.

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What are the dates to keep in mind?

The first date to keep in mind is Wednesday, September 6, which is the deadline for communicating concerns, requesting clarifications or formulating observations to the Terms of Reference.

The Colombia Productiva entity, which is administered by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, will have until Tuesday, September 12 to communicate the respective responses.

MSMEs have until Friday, October 13 to submit their project proposal for quality certification.

Proposals may be submitted by e-mail on a rolling basis prior to the closing date.

Finally, the list of selected MSMEs and the amount of resources awarded will be published on Monday, December 11.

Quality certification to increase exports by MSMEs

The manager of Colombia Productiva, Aurelio Mejía, explained at the launch of the call for proposals that in Colombia only 3.1% of MSMEs have product quality certifications and only 6.3% have process quality certification.

For his part, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, German Umaña, explained that this call is part of the reindustrialization and internationalization strategy of the national government.

According to the minister, “meeting international quality standards is key to achieve this diversification and to have more companies with the right conditions to export”.

However, not everything is rosy for MSMEs

Although this call is another step to improve the export capacity of MSMEs, experts on the subject say that the measure is insufficient for the number of existing companies.

According to official information from the Ministry, a total of $690 million will be distributed, which means that, if projects are selected for the maximum amount of co-financing, only 8 companies would have enough money.

The executive director of the Colombian Association of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Bogotá, Alejandra Osorio, explains that there is no coherent policy to support MSMEs.

On the contrary, what we have are “disjointed policies through partial reforms. Colombia’s country cost is very high, there is no ecosystem for the promotion of business”, explained the businesswoman. To consult the call, click on this link.

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