The CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) and the Bavaria (Colombia), National Cervecería (Ecuador) and Backus (Peru) beer companies (Peru) They specified a regional alliance aimed at promoting financial inclusion and accelerating the digitalization of shopkeepers and entrepreneurs of the traditional channel.
They explained that this joint effort It seeks to strengthen the business capacities of small neighborhood businesses through training programs, access to digital tools and financing models adapted to their reality.
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The initiative is presented as a strategic commitment to boost the regional productive base, close access gaps to the financial system and climb economic development models with local impact.
The first phase of the agreement contemplates the realization of a comprehensive diagnosis that allows us to understand in depth the characteristics, challenges and opportunities of these micronegocios, in terms of financial capacities, use of digital tools and access to formal formal services. From this analysis, specific solutions will be designed to improve business income, increase their productivity and reduce structural socio -economic gaps.
The Bavaria company has developed a strategy to strengthen shopkeepers.
Rafael Jalle
Among the pillars of the Alliance is the design of financial education solutions, active inclusion in the digital economy and the articulation with public, private and fintechs institutions to facilitate access to products such as credit, savings, investment and protection mechanisms in the retirement stage.
For the international organism, this alliance is part of its institutional strategy to promote more inclusive and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with emphasis on the design of financial education programs and digital transformation aimed at vulnerable populations, such as microenterprises.
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“From CAF we firmly believe that financial inclusion is a good tool to close structural gaps and promote sustainable growth. This alliance with Bavaria, National Cervecería and Backus will allow us to impact the financial and digital inclusion of thousands of micro and small busines financial”, Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive president of CAF said.
The beer industry: a key socioeconomic actor for the region
According to the Beer’s Global Economic Footprint study, prepared by the Oxford Economics firm together with the World Brewing Alliance (WBA), the beer industry contributed a total of US $ 88.7 billion to Latin America, equivalent to 1.3 %in 2023.
Of that amount, 65 % corresponds to the direct activities of the beer companies, while 35 % comes from the extended value chain, which includes distributors, retailers and establishments in the hospitality sector – such as bars, restaurants, hotels and entertainment and tourism services.
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The report also highlights that the industry generated 3.9 million jobs in the region, representing 1.4 % of the total occupation in the countries analyzed. In fiscal terms, the sector contributed US $ 58.9 million in taxes, of which 63 % comes from beer consumption.
“This analysis demonstrates the crucial role of beer in Latin American economies. The industry not only creates jobs, but also promotes fiscal income and economic development,” said Tania Ramos, executive director of Latin American brewery.
Beer
Source: Istock
The dimension of stores in Colombia
In the Colombian context, the small neighborhood businesses – both minimen, bars and restaurants – are a fundamental part of the social and economic fabric, energizing local trade, generating employment and contributing to the well -being of thousands of families. According to Fenalco figures, the traditional channel in the country is made up of more than 500,000 establishments, representing 40 % of trade and employ about 575,000 people throughout the national territory.
Since 2017, Bavaria has led initiatives to support this sector through its Bavaria Entrepreneurs Program, with which it has benefited more than 80,000 shopkeepers and tenderas. This comprehensive initiative combines business training, digitalization and financial inclusion, and has shown tangible results: beneficiaries have reported 30 % increases in their daily income, on average.
“With this experience of almost a decade, financial inclusion and digitalization have been identified as growth determinants,” says the company.
The accumulated experience of Bavaria has been key to climbing the model at the regional level, within the framework of this new alliance backed by CAF and other brewers of the continent.
Constance Gómez Guasca
Portfolio writing
