USAID Creating Economic Opportunities Project Quarterly Performance Report, Y1Q1: January 19 – March 31, 2018

The project aims to generate economic opportunities to reduce economic migration by strengthening the promotion of investment and trade, stimulating access to financing in the private sector, catalyzing the development of productive infrastructure, and improving the competitiveness of Guatemala's productive sector. The project is focused on five Departments in Guatemala's Western Highlands, including Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, Totonicapán, Quiché, and San Marcos, as well as the capital Department of Guatemala. The project is structured with four primary Components, which are enabled by a robust operations and management infrastructure and cross-cutting technical teams. These four main project Components include: Component 1, Trade and Investment Promoted; Component 2, Financial Services Mobilized; Component 3, Productive Infrastructure Upgraded; and Component 4, Private Sector Competitiveness Increased. Component 4 is comprised of two sub-components, including Private Sector Capacity and Workforce Development. During the first quarter of implementation, the CEO Project's primary focus has been on project start-up and development of a Year 1 Work Plan. Across all Components, this has included extensive engagement with counterparts, stakeholders, and potential partners in the public and private sectors to validate approaches, build the foundations of cooperation, and take preliminary steps to establish the alliances at the heart of the technical approach. Component 1, Trade and Investment Promoted, has advanced work planning efforts, including ongoing analysis to support final selection of target economic corridors and focus sectors. The project will actively partner with and support domestic and international businesses in priority sectors, including infrastructure development, as drivers of economic growth. Over the course of its five-year period of performance, the project will work at the national level to develop the institutional and regulatory framework to support substantial, targeted investment and export promotion. At the regional level, the project will support the development of critical infrastructure and service platforms to attract investment, spur growth, and generate employment. The project's technical approach is integrated, with all four Components working together to achieve the project's objectives. Component 1 will drive a number of core, strategic initiatives to promote investment and trade, and guide the implications across the Project. Component 2 will mobilize financial services, and Component 3 will upgrade productive infrastructure. Component 4 will improve private sector competitiveness, with a focus on private sector capacity and workforce development. Through strategic platforms for financial facilitation, the project will improve enterprises of all sizes' access to the capital needed to meet market demands and create employment opportunities.