“Estemos Abiertos” is the new initiative that the Fundación Paraguaya and Coca Cola will be carrying out in alliance with the Asociación de Almaceneros Minoristas del Paraguay (AMP) and the support of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. This is an economic and social reactivation program that seeks to help small businesses which have been affected by the current health crisis in our country. The launch was made through a webinar open to all audiences explaining the scope and objective of this new initiative.

Martín Burt, the CEO of Fundación Paraguaya participated in the launch webinar. The First Lady of the Nation, Silvana Abdo; the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Liz Cramer; Marcos Pueyrredón, president of eCommerce Institude and Global VP of VTEX; Silvina Bianco, Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability of the Coca Cola Company; Francisco Sanfurgo Cañas, general manager of Coca Cola Paresa, and Luis Ibarra, president of the Asociación de Almaceneros Minoristas del Paraguay (AMP) were also present.

“We work with over 70,000 micro-businesses and it really is a resilient sector, over the past few months we have additionally incorporated 2,000 micro-businesses,” said the Executive Director of Fundación Paraguaya, Martín Burt, during the launch of the program, in which the First Lady of the Nation, Silvana Abdo showed her support and joy for the launch of Estemos Abiertos. “We can show once again that by working together, it is possible to have a future full of hope, work and solidarity,” he said.

For his part, the general manager of Coca Cola Paraguay, Francisco Sanfurgo, mentioned how this year 2020 surprised everyone with a strong economic impact. He said: “we decided to join forces and take an important step to boost the country’s economy, supporting the most vulnerable sector for the reactivation of small businesses.”

To wrap-up the virtual meeting, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Liz Cramer, also gave a message of encouragement and support for the “Estemos Abiertos” program, predicting success for the participants. “The small shops of neighborhoods became an example, they managed to respond quickly to provide such services,” said the Secretary of State.

Estemos Abiertos will seek to support the reactivation of approximately 600 businesses, in an initiative that includes lending microcredits to small-shop owners, as well as training in areas such as sales, and individual support.