[{"bbox": [85, 152, 1145, 208], "category": "Text", "text": "education, and health, improving governance, and the fight against corruption remain of the first order. Reforms are\nnot only needed to attract foreign direct investment, but to secure sustainable and inclusive growth."}, {"bbox": [85, 237, 1145, 293], "category": "Text", "text": "**Support to enhance the readiness of key value chains to comply with European Union sustainable trade regulations in the framework of the European Green Deal.**"}, {"bbox": [85, 307, 1145, 478], "category": "Text", "text": "This support will strengthen the private sector's contribution to the implementation of the European Green Deal and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work carried out by key value chains of the agricultural sector in Guatemala to demonstrate the principles of trade and sustainable development, and in particular to comply with the application of the new EU standards on deforestation, which also include specific requirements on the rights of indigenous peoples⁴, will inform and inspire the discussions of the Trade and Sustainable Development Committee, the Advisory Groups and the Civil Society forum of the EU-CA AA."}, {"bbox": [85, 507, 1145, 592], "category": "Text", "text": "This component will directly contribute to climate change mitigation by supporting deforestation-free products and sustainable forestry that contribute to the protection of forest and plant cover and against soil degradation; and the targeted agri-food systems transitioning towards climate-smart and regenerative agriculture."}, {"bbox": [85, 621, 1145, 678], "category": "Text", "text": "This support links with the GGIA for Guatemala as it underpins the implementation of the Green Deal Pact and the adoption of climate smart practices that can attract European investments in the agricultural sector"}, {"bbox": [85, 707, 1145, 764], "category": "Text", "text": "**Institutional capacities and digitalisation of public services for a more conducive investment and business environment for MSMEs and Cooperatives.**"}, {"bbox": [85, 777, 1145, 946], "category": "Text", "text": "In line with 'National Digital Plan 2021-2026', the Government of Guatemala has introduced several Single Windows for processing trade and investment services. The existence of different platforms calls for interoperability among them to allow the business community to save time and cost for submissions and for government agencies to bring better risk management, security, data exchange and increased revenue through enhanced trader/investor compliance. Besides, border regulatory agencies that have not digitalised their processes yet by initiating the process and joining the existing Single Windows will create a more conducive business and investment environment."}, {"bbox": [85, 977, 1145, 1062], "category": "Text", "text": "This component links with the GGIA for Guatemala as it will enhance access to digital tools for MSMEs and cooperatives and build digital skills among all stakeholders, creating a more conducive investment and business environment that can facilitate the attraction of European private sector investments."}, {"bbox": [85, 1092, 1145, 1148], "category": "Text", "text": "**Competitiveness of MSMEs and cooperatives through a better access to finance, innovation and digital tools and new economic models based on circularity.**"}, {"bbox": [85, 1161, 1145, 1447], "category": "Text", "text": "The Government has been working on actions based on key policies such as: Productive Innovation Policy for Competitiveness, based on the National Plan for Innovation and Development (PLANID); Sectoral Innovation Policy; Entrepreneurship Policy; Policy for the Development of MSMEs; National Competitiveness Policy; Plan for MSMEs Digitisation, and others to improve the business climate and the competitiveness of the productive sectors, with emphasis on MSMEs and cooperatives, which constitute the most companies in the country. According to FEPYME, the Federation of Guatemalan MSMEs, 375 000 MSMES (90% of the total) contribute to 40% of GDP, represent 44.65% of total exports and employ 80% of the economically active population. There is a registry of around 1900 cooperatives nationwide, of which it is estimated that 800 are active. For the inclusive economic development of the country, it is important to increase the long-term competitiveness of these companies through access to innovation, digitalisation, affordable finance and transitioning towards circular business models."}, {"bbox": [85, 1460, 1145, 1603], "category": "Text", "text": "The support to new economic models based on circularity and the greening of the key value chains selected is justified as half of total greenhouse gas emissions and more than 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress come from the extraction, processing, and manufacturing and consumption of materials/natural resources. The EU works for a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and competitive economy. Besides measures to phase out fossil fuels and decarbonise the economy, scaling up the circular economy and reducing material consumption in middle and high"}, {"bbox": [85, 1639, 625, 1661], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁴ https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10284-2022-INIT/en/pdf"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1681, 1145, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 39"}]