From June 16th to 18th, 2026, Brussels – the institutional heart of the European Union – hosted #CONEXIÓNVerde+, the closing event of the EU Programme: AL-INVEST Verde. This three-day in-person meeting was designed to celebrate the milestones achieved, showcase collective results and, above all, foster the exchange of best practices and the creation of new synergies for the ecological transition, sustainable competitiveness, and job creation.

ILS LEDA actively participated in this important networking space as a key implementing partner in two projects co-financed by the programme, which have made a concrete contribution to transforming local productive systems in Latin America.

Our initiatives on the ground: innovation, sustainability, and inclusion

ILS LEDA's participation in the Brussels event is linked to the tangible results achieved through two international cooperation projects aimed at strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs):

1. Water and agro-food transition in the Department of Valle (Honduras)

Within the project "Innovación en sistemas productivos agroalimentarios para la gobernanza hídrica del Departamento de Valle" (managed by ADED VALLE), ILS LEDA actively worked to:

• Foster competitive, inclusive, and sustainable development of the dairy and sesame value chains.
• Implement innovative processes, products, and organizational technologies.
• Boost local economic dynamic, sustainable growth of MSMEs, and the creation of new jobs in the intervention area.

2. Innovations and development for a green economy (El Salvador)

Under the project "Innovaciones y desarrollo para una economía verde" (managed by ADEL LA UNION), the intervention focused on:

• The introduction of green and sustainable technologies in the strategic value chains of vegetables, fruits, and honey.
• Promoting inclusive economic growth for local SMEs in the departments of La Unión and San Miguel, reducing environmental impact and improving producers' efficiency.

The Brussels event represented an extraordinary opportunity to reflect on the long-term legacy of the AL-INVEST Verde Programme. For ILS LEDA, the exchange with European and Latin American partners confirmed the effectiveness of sustainable local economic development models and paved the way for new collaborations to continue promoting an ecological transition that leaves no one behind.

Photo Gallery