Fedex Launches Grant Program For Colombian Entrepreneurs

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) last week announced the Small Business Grant Contest in Colombia. This FedEx Program for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises was created to promote and support the sustainable growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MIPyMES, or SMEs) in Colombia by creating new possibilities around the world.

Initially, the plan was to award two winners, but with the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on business, the prize purse was expanded to benefit ten deserving SMEs with a total of $66,767 USD worth of prize money (dollar amounts are approximate).

The first two places will receive $21,415 and $8,818 respectively, and specialized training in foreign trade, customs and international logistics that will allow them to strengthen their business idea, as well as expand locally and internationally. Eight additional winners will earn prizes from $1,763 to $7,558.

SME owners may register online until June 5th

Working together with Inexmoda, the Colombo American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Colombia) and ProColombia, FedEx will provide the program’s winners with tailor-made advice on trade, digital marketing and how to support expansion plans.

“Today more than ever, our Small Business Grant Contest will support SMEs as a recovering force for Latin American economies and workers. We are very proud to join forces with Inexmoda, AmCham Colombia and ProColombia to help SME owners reach possibilities in unexplored markets. This first edition in Colombia demonstrates our constant dedication to connecting companies of all sizes with possibilities around the world,” said Cristiano Koga, FedEx Express Vice President of Sales for South America.”

To participate, companies do not have to be a current customer or have an active account with FedEx Express. SME owners may register on the online page until June 5th, and winners will be announced June 30th, 2020.

Qualified business owners can apply through the page created for the program, describing their plans to expand their business in Colombia or take it to new international markets. A panel of local experts made up of FedEx Express representatives and their business partners for this campaign will evaluate the most innovative business ideas and choose 10 companies to help take their businesses to the next level.

To register your business profile or view terms and conditions, visit the fedex.com/programafedex/co website for full details on the registration process and evaluation criteria.

The FedEx Small and Medium Enterprise Program was launched in the United States in 2012, and expanded internationally in 2015. Since then, it has continued to grow and in Latin America has been carried out in Brazil, Mexico and Chile, and from this year it will be held in Colombia to provide more possibilities to SMEs in this important regional market.