IDB launches first online business community in the Americas: ConnectAmericas

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Aug. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) recently launched ConnectAmericas, the first online community of companies in the Americas. Under the slogan “Take the world in your hands”, the platform seeks to promote the internationalization of companies in the region, in particular SMEs, by facilitating contacts, key trade data and financing options.

“The IDB is now providing companies a new platform to help SMEs find clients, and technical and financial information in an easy way and free of charge”, said Fabrizio Opertti, Chief of the Trade and Investment Unit of the IDB.

The SMEs are an important segment of the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, representing 90 percent of total companies and more than 50 percent of total employment. ConnectAmericas’ main objective is to expand the markets of the region’s SMEs.

ConnectAmericas offers three service areas: Connect, Learn and Get Financed. This is the first online community of companies in Latin America and the Caribbean through which enterprises will be able to connect with clients, suppliers and investors from all over the world; have access to information and tutorials on how to carry out international transactions; and obtain information on the financing opportunities available in each country.

This new platform was developed with the support of Google, DHL, Alibaba and Visa, and is functionally linked to export promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, banks and other governmental and non-governmental organizations that support the internationalization of SMEs in the region, among them PRONicaragua, the official investment and export promotion agency of Nicaragua.

PRONicaragua and the IDB have partnered before in initiatives aimed at promoting SME development in the region. In 2013, PRONicaragua hosted that year’s edition of LACFlavors, an IDB annual roundtable event held since 2009 to strengthen trade opportunities for SMEs in the food sector in the region. This time, PRONicaragua is collaborating with the IDB in fostering the participation of Nicaraguan companies in ConnectAmericas, giving them the tools to reach new markets and expand their client base.

For more information visit http://connectamericas.com/