Caja Ica participated prominently in the LATAM Meeting – Voices, Knowledge and Sustainability in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM), an international space promoted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as an articulating and technical entity, together with the global project planetGOLD, an initiative present in 23 countries with the purpose of promoting mining formalization, promoting clean technologies that reduce the use of mercury, strengthening access to responsible markets and contributing to compliance with international standards of the Minamata Convention. Thanks to the role of the UNDP as a promoter of sustainability policies and the implementation of planetGOLD, this meeting was consolidated as a high-value platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and strategies that contribute to transforming ASM in the region.
The event brought together representatives from Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Peru, generating a space for technical dialogue, collaborative learning and exhibition of good practices linked to mining sustainability. Initiatives related to financial inclusion, capacity building, innovation in production processes and the construction of a regional agenda oriented towards more formal, inclusive and environmentally responsible mining were highlighted. Among the international speakers, leaders from the sector stood out such as Inka Matilda, UNDP Resident Representative; Eduardo Peña, President of the Board of Directors of BanEcuador; Francisco Encalada, Deputy Manager of Gold Marketing of the Central Bank of Ecuador; Margarita Pineda, Deputy Commercial Manager of the Financial Cooperative of Antioquia (Colombia); and Mauricio Winkelried, representative of the Mining Program of the NGO Solidaridad.
Caja Ica had a particularly relevant participation through Walter Santiago Leyva Ramírez, Central Business Manager, and Jefrin Rojas Huamán, Head of Agricultural Clients, who presented the conference “GROW MINERO: Designing credits that change lives”. During their presentation, they shared the institutional experience in the design of the financial product aimed at ASM, highlighting the results achieved and its impact on the productive transformation of the sector. They highlighted that Crece Minero not only improved the institutional view towards artisanal mining, but also redefined the approach to financial inclusion, demonstrating that a product with a purpose generates pride, motivation and meaning within the organization. Under this vision, they emphasized that Crece Minero not only finances machinery, but also the future, opportunities and sustainability, becoming a key tool to accompany the transition towards responsible mining and aligned with the standards promoted by the UNDP and planetGOLD.
This participation reaffirms Caja Ica’s commitment to sustainability, financial innovation and the generation of solutions that promote the responsible development of mining communities in Peru, consolidating its role as a strategic ally in strengthening ASM at the regional level.
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