Panama: COLAC to administer $13 million in Microcredit

The AMPYME has given the Latin American Confederation of Credit Unions (COLAC) administration of the trust FIDEMICRO-OPORTUNIDAD.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The Panamanian Authority for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (AMPYME) has awarded to COLAC the administration of a $13 million trust, called FIDEMICRO-OPORTUNIDAD, which aims to support over 6,500 micro and small enterprises.

An official statement by AMPYME reads:
"The trust companies COLAC and Icaza Trust Corporation, in May 2011 presented their proposals, for the best-value, for the management of the FIDEMICRO-OPPORTUNITY fund, which is a microcredit trust fund assigned to the AMPYME.

The successful trustee COLAC's mission is to manage the fund, manage and place loans to first-tier operators that correspond to cooperatives, financers, microfinance banks, rural banks and NGOs throughout the country, who may then lend using various terms and conditions to MSEs.

More on this topic

$50 Million for Small and Medium Panamanian Companies

July 2009

The Panamanian government is allocating this amount to the development of micro and small businesses involving 546,412 establishments on the national level.

Giselle Calcagno, Minster of the Micro, Small, and Medium Business Authority (AMPYME, acronym in Spanish) commented that the fund is designated for seed capital, micro-credit, collateral funds, and for technical training and assistance.

Panama: Loans Conference for SMEs

August 2010

The show, organized by the Panamanian Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Authority (AMPyME in Spanish), will be held on 1 and 2 of September in the Atlapa Conference Center.

The idea of the show is to gather under one roof as many financial institutions as possible with products for the MSME sector with the aim of providing small companies with the support they need to develop their businesses.

Up to $1.000 in Seed Funding for SMEs

November 2009

In addition to non-reimbursable funds, Panamanian entrepreneurs will receive technical assistance for elaborating business plans.

Congress is discussing Law 35, which comprises the creation of the Entrepreneurship Fostering Fund. This includes a Seed Capital trust fund, and resources for Technical Assistance, Guarantees and Micro-credit.

Microcredit Grows in Guatemala

April 2012

Between 2010 and 2011 the microfinance portfolio increased by 23%, going from $84 million to $104 million, averaging $529 per loan.

From the Journal of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala:

Microfinance institutions in Guatemala maintain a dynamic support for the development and growth of thousands of micro and small businesses around the country, especially in rural areas.

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