Amazon Bioeconomy Marketplace

implementation

To contribute to improve socioeconomic conditions, fight climate change, restore ecosystems and implement sustainable development practices in the Amazon regions of Colombia and Ecuador. To that end, the activities in this TC aim to support the development of an online Amazon Bioeconomy Marketplace (ABM) to help bio-businesses in the Amazon region increase and diversify their exports and attract investment. Specifically, the TC will focus on (i) the implementation of a market analysis to identify products, producers, buyers, local business support organizations, and other key stakeholders in the ABM, understand the key challenges that Amazon bio-businesses face when looking to enter into international markets or attract investment, and identify actions that can help overcome these challenges, (ii) the verification and certification of selected bio-businesses with the objective of increasing their access to foreign markets, and (iii) the design of blended-finance and other financial mechanisms to increase access to finance for bio-economy producers in the Amazon. Subsequent work required to develop and market the ABM, onboard bio-businesses from other Amazon countries (Brazil, Peru, Suriname, Guyana), and incorporate the bio-businesses supported under this TC into the ABM, is expected be funded with resources from the Green Climate Fund, as resources have been earmarked for this specific purpose. The ABM will allow sellers to create company and product profiles, receive payments for those products, engage logistics and other service providers to be able to ship their products to buyers abroad, and track and manage their orders. It will also allow potential investors to find information about bio-businesses that are looking for investment and connect with them. The Marketplace will charge a fee on each transaction so that the revenue generated can be used to (i) continue funding activities that strengthen the skills and processes of local bio-businesses to increase access to foreign markets and investment, and (ii) further disseminate the Marketplace in the Amazon and abroad. This TC will complement two IDB-led initiatives proposed to the Green Climate Fund (GCF): Amazonia 4.0 and the Leticia Platform. The preparation of this TC was led by INT in close coordination with CSD (ACU y CCS), IDB Invest, IDB Lab.