COFOCE and INDEX take SMEs into global value chains

Under the vision of Governor Libia Dennise Garcia Munoz Ledo, this alliance seeks to expand growth opportunities for Guanajuatense companies and strengthen local suppliers

Both institutions will promote training, regulatory compliance and business connection so that more MSMEs start to export

Silao/Gto News

With the purpose of strengthening business competitiveness and generating new opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the Coordinator for the Promotion of Foreign Trade (COFOCE) and INDEX Guanajuato renewed their collaboration agreement to promote the integration of local suppliers into global value chains.

This alliance reflects Governor Libia Dennise Garcia Munoz Ledo ‘s vision of promoting more inclusive economic development, where international trade opportunities reach more businesses and translate into growth, jobs, and well-being for Guanajuatense families.

Margarita Soto Ortiz, Director of INDEX Guanajuato, noted that this renewal represents an opportunity to strengthen the joint work of both institutions, taking advantage of their experience, talent and capabilities to meet the needs of the export industry.

“The key to the success in this agreement will be collaborative work. The biggest challenge will be combining the talent, skills, and willingness of both institutions to make it work. I would summarize it in three words: SMEs, compliance, and exports,” said Soto.

“The idea is for the country’s maquiladora sector to feel firmly established here in the State and, why not, now with a new obligation we have: to integrate small and medium-sized industries. And that’s where you come in,” said Alfonso Valdes Carmona, President of INDEX Guanajuato.

Valdes also raised the possibility of expanding this collaboration to the national level, with the purpose of strengthening coordination between both organizations and generating new opportunities for the export sector.

The renewal of the agreement establishes a collaboration agenda of COFOCE and INDEX Guanajuato in three main areas:

• Strategic information: sharing data and analysis that allows us to understand the needs of the export industry and identify opportunities for Guanajuatense suppliers
• Preparation and compliance: strengthen training and support in foreign trade, IMMEX industry and regulatory compliance, so that more SMEs are prepared to integrate into supply chains
• Business linkage: identify reliable local suppliers and bring them closer to the supply needs of the manufacturing and export industry

Among the first actions announced is COFOCE’s participation in the INDEX National Convention and the development of a joint training and capacity-building agenda towards 2027.

Luis Antonio Vargas Zavala, General Director of COFOCE, noted that this alliance will connect two great strengths of Guanajuato: a consolidated export industry and the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that have the capacity and talent to participate in its production chains. Vargas explained that while INDEX maintains a direct link with the large export manufacturing industry, COFOCE focuses its efforts on preparing, supporting and strengthening the capabilities of MSMEs.

“You have the link with large industry. Large industry has countless needs, and often the suppliers could also be found in Guanajuato. What can we offer as COFOCE? The mapping of reliable suppliers to interconnect them with industry in Guanajuato, the Bajio region, or even with national industry,” said Vargas Zavala.

The head of COFOCE pointed out that one of the main objectives will be to strengthen indirect exports, through which local companies can integrate into international trade as suppliers to companies that export to other markets.

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