Be Green Trade: combining business incubation and market development for sustainable forest enterprises in Bolivia

Be Green Trade is an integrated business incubator and market developer established by the Business Work Foundation (Fundación Trabajo Empresa or FTE), in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. It combines a 5,000 m² shared workspace with business planning, training, mentoring, legal support, product development and marketing services for micro and small enterprises working with recycled wood, timber and non-timber forest products. Through partnerships with public institutions, businesses, universities, NGOs and professional networks, it connects producers with technical expertise, sales channels and market information.

Be Green Trade responds to a central constraint: forest products and their environmental, social and cultural value are poorly recognized in markets, while small enterprises face limited finance, formalization requirements and competition from imports and informal businesses. Over five years, it supported about 40 businesses and contributed to 815 direct jobs, including 423 for women and 147 for people under 25.

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