Bogota, October 2024. The Bogota Chamber of Commerce (CCB) will be present for the first time at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP16), between October 21 and November 1 in Cali, sharing with attendees its experiences and programs to support the sustainable development of entrepreneurs in Bogota and Cundinamarca.

During this international meeting, the CCB will call on the private sector to promote the efficient use of natural resources and conservation, adopt science-based technological innovations to address biodiversity loss and climate change, and facilitate access to financing for projects with a positive environmental impact. It will also promote transparency in corporate sustainability reporting and highlight the importance of joint efforts to raise awareness among companies and individuals.

Ovidio Claros Polanco, executive president of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, underscored the relevance of the entity's participation in COP16: “Sustainability is not only a responsibility, it is an opportunity for companies to lead the change towards a more resilient and responsible economy with biodiversity conservation. At COP16, the CCB ratifies its commitment to innovation, inclusion and sustainable finance as pillars to face global challenges”.

The entity's participation will be carried out through different spaces such as the CCB House, a permanent space for public attention, located in the Biodiversity District 4 in the Green Zone, where it will share its progress, services and strategic bets through four thematic axes that represent its commitment to the sustainable growth of the productive sector in Colombia:

Bioeconomy: a new way to generate profitable and sustainable businesses.

The CCB will promote its commitment to the bioeconomy as an engine for generating new business models that integrate the conservation of natural resources with business competitiveness. Through initiatives for the use of natural ingredients, it has worked with companies to create solutions based on biodiversity, promoting sustainable practices that protect the environment and generate economic value.

With the program “Boosting the bioingredients ecosystem”, the CCB held a networking roundtable with 53 participants, in addition to advancing an international mission BIO IN in France. At the same time, with the “Foodtech” program, the entity identified more than 180 technological initiatives promoted by 110 companies in the food industry, designing an intervention methodology for entrepreneurs, companies and allies to boost the appropriation of technologies, with components such as biotechnology, AI, among others.

Sustainable Finance for Biodiversity

To meet the financial challenges of development, the CCB has worked to connect entrepreneurs with financing mechanisms, accelerating the opportunity to invest in environmentally responsible projects. These financial resources are focused on facilitating the adoption of environmentally conscious practices and ensuring the viability of environmental restoration projects. It is worth noting that, with the program “Wheels of Sustainable Finance”, it has held four of these events with more than 250 attendees, offering valuable content on financing alternatives for climate projects.

From science to action: Innovation to solve environmental challenges in the productive sector

Innovation is key to addressing environmental challenges in the business sector. The CCB has developed programs that support companies in the implementation of applied technologies to address environmental impacts and improve their competitiveness. It has also worked on the creation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Campus, which will offer a wide range of physical spaces for the provision of services by the actors of the CTIB ecosystem, promoting innovation for the social and economic development of Bogota. The entity developed around 8 different programs that had a direct impact on more than 16,000 entrepreneurs, SMEs and MSMEs in productive sectors such as innovation and innovation.

The CCB will promote its commitment to the bioeconomy as an engine for generating new business models that integrate the conservation of natural resources with business competitiveness. Through initiatives for the use of natural ingredients, it has worked with companies to create solutions based on biodiversity, promoting sustainable practices that protect the environment and generate economic value.

Inclusion and diversity for productivity

The CCB also recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in the work environment as factors that drive productivity, and that cannot be separated from efforts to promote business sustainability. Through programs that promote labor inclusion of vulnerable populations and gender equity, it has worked with companies to create equitable and diverse work environments, generating positive impacts ranging from employability to entrepreneurship.

It is important to highlight that the CCB, through its Tourism Cluster initiative, has impacted 18 tourism entrepreneurs in destination management, also benefiting 45 entrepreneurs and creating a tourism product called “Route of the Water Mountains: a biodiverse territory aimed at the prioritized flow”. Likewise, with the Fashion Cluster, traditional weaving techniques were preserved and certified by the SENA for 39 natives of displaced communities living in Bogota. Likewise, through the Productive Inclusion Network, it has assisted more than 1,000 beneficiaries belonging to vulnerable populations in employability and entrepreneurship processes.

With its participation in COP16, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce continues to reaffirm its commitment to promoting sustainability in the private sector, supporting the transition of companies towards sustainable business models through circular economy programs.

With the program “Boosting the bioingredients ecosystem”, the CCB held a networking roundtable with 53 participants, in addition to advancing an international mission BIO IN in France. At the same time, with the “Foodtech” program, the entity identified more than 180 technological initiatives promoted by 110 companies in the food industry, designing an intervention methodology for entrepreneurs, companies and allies to boost the appropriation of technologies, with components such as biotechnology, AI, among others.

Additionally, on Tuesday, October 29, the CCB will hold the Forum “Biodiversity: Opportunity for the generation of profitable and sustainable business”, which will include the participation of Ovidio Claros, executive president of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogota; Daphne Yong-d'Hervé, director of political engagement of the ICC global network; Abyd Karmali, general director of Bank of America; Owen Bethell, global leader in biodiversity at Nestlé; Alfred Ignacio Ballesteros, general director of the CAR Cundinamarca, Angie Mogollón, CEO of We Push, among others.

In this space, which will take place in the “Salón cámara” of the Instituto de Bellas in the city of Cali, initiatives, strategies and success stories will be presented that demonstrate how companies can integrate sustainable, responsible and innovative use of natural resources into their production processes and value chains.