These difficulties are due to knowledge and skills gaps, limited access to networks, and less access to capital to support their business growth. To address these limitations, INCAE, with funding provided by the PriceSmart Foundation and Cargill, developed the Empresarias Progresando Program (EMPRO Honduras) to equip women SME leaders with business and financial skills and knowledge.
As part of the Program, the businesswomen prepared to present their entrepreneurship and growth plan to two panels of experts, one financial and the other business, through an "elevator pitch", which took place on June 14 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa, CCIT.
During this activity, known as the Business Roundtable, the entrepreneurs also met with representatives of potential retailers and/or new distribution channels for their products, which they also had the opportunity to show to representatives of organizations and special guests present at the event.
Daniel Fortín, President of the Board of Directors of the Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and host of the event, kicked off the day's activities. Among the distinguished participants were Juan José Cruz, Government Relations Manager of Cargill, Erick Escoto, Deputy General Manager of PriceSmart, and Ronald Arce, Director of CLACDS/INCAE.
The EMPRO Program began in October of last year and aims to provide training and mentoring activities to women entrepreneurs in order to improve and diversify their access to markets and strengthen their capacity to obtain credit and other financial services necessary for their growth.
For more information about EMPRO Honduras and its activities, please contact Mauren Esquivel at mauren.esquivel@incae.edu.
