Tena hosted the first regional workshop to boost Amazonian bio-businesses in Ecuador
Fundación Aliados and Conexsus presented progress from the AmazonBeEco project, which aims to benefit 8,000 families and increase the income of Amazonian bio-businesses by 30%.
With the participation of community enterprises, social organizations, and public institutions, Tena became the meeting point to advance toward a new Amazonian economy. The First Workshop on Amazonian Bio-businesses and Associative Enterprises was organized by Fundación Aliados in coordination with Brazilian organization Conexsus, as part of the pan-Amazonian AmazonBeEco project, funded by BID Lab and GEF.
During the event, initial results from the regional mapping of Amazonian bio-businesses were shared, and concrete steps were defined to form a national coalition. The shared goal: to promote productive alternatives that integrate economic development with environmental protection and community well-being.
“What we aim to build is a new business model for the Amazon—one that supports the economy, benefits local people, and protects the environment,” said Wain Collen, Director of Fundación Aliados.
Out of the 25 pre-selected bio-businesses, 16 will receive direct support through technical assistance and blended financing. These ventures stand out for their ability to create economic value while protecting ecosystems, promoting social inclusion, and strengthening local leadership.
From Brazil, the Conexsus team shared its experience in strengthening community-based bio-businesses and emphasized that sustainability is not only about financial growth.
“We want to see income improvements, but also better governance and management practices. That’s the only way to ensure long-term impact,” said André Ramos, Deputy Director of Operations at Conexsus.
Voices from the Amazonian bio-businesses on the ground also resonated powerfully. For many local entrepreneurs, access to financing, fair commercialization, and technical training remain persistent challenges.
“We want to be competitive, aggregate raw materials, build trust, and strengthen the local economy,” explained Diomedes Cueva from APECAP Association.
“This new wave of bio-business is an opportunity to turn the richness of the Amazon into real opportunities for the community,” shared Andrea Lopez from WITOCA.
In Ecuador, over $1.1 million in investment is projected, representing 16% of the project’s total budget. This support is expected to increase the incomes of participating bio-businesses by 30%. At the regional level, AmazonBeEco aims to reach 100 enterprises across six countries and directly benefit around 8,000 families, while preserving more than 400,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest.
The project is being implemented simultaneously in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Suriname, and Guyana, with technical support from Conexsus – Brazil, where it has already been successfully carried out. The shared vision: to strengthen a pan-Amazonian socio-bioeconomy that fosters development without compromising the ecological integrity of the territory.
