The European Union consolidates its contribution to promoting decent employment through the EURO EMPLEO Program and invests in the sustainable economic development of Honduras with the IMPULSA VERDE project.
Comayagua, Honduras, March 6, 2025 – At an event to present best practices and technical assistance experiences, the European Union (EU) reaffirmed its commitment to Honduras' economic and social development by consolidating its contribution to the promotion of decent employment. With an investment of €85 million during the period 2014–2024, the European Union supported the implementation of programs such as EURO +LABOR and EURO EMPLEO. These programs have been fundamental in improving employability, boosting the competitiveness of MSMEs, and strengthening the quality of employment services for Honduran citizens.
As a result, 150 national and international experts have provided technical assistance for 6,654 working days to more than 20 institutions in the employment sector responsible for implementing the National Employment Policy. Among the most notable achievements of this support are the promotion of digital entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, the virtualization of vocational training programs, the strengthening of the capacities of producers in agricultural value chains, and the strengthening of employment services across the country.
Likewise, as part of its 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework and its Global Gateway initiative, the European Union is expanding its support for sustainable economic growth in Honduras through its contribution to the IMPULSA VERDE project, implemented by the CDE MIPYME Honduras Network, which seeks to strengthen the business ecosystem by developing value chains related to the forestry sector, promoting entrepreneurship and accelerating green businesses.
The project has a total investment of €6.3 million, of which €4.8 million is financed by the European Union and €1.4 million by the CDE MIPYME Honduras Network. Over a period of four years, IMPULSA VERDE will be implemented in 15 departments and 35 municipalities across the country, distributed across the following strategic development regions: Lempa, La Mosquitia, Gulf of Fonseca, Cordillera Nombre de Dios, and Valle de Sula.
IMPULSA VERDE will work with public and private actors to create a favorable environment for green MSMEs through regulatory and institutional frameworks that promote the growth of micro and small enterprises related to the forestry sector; the strengthening of business associations, with special attention to those representing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; and improving the competitiveness of value chains related to the forestry sector, promoting innovation, productive transformation, access to financing, and expansion into new markets.
The development and implementation of a specialized business technical assistance model will enable micro and small enterprises to adopt sustainable strategies to reduce their environmental impact and improve their competitiveness in national and international markets.