The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a USD 50 million loan agreement with Guatemala-based CMI Alimentos Global S.L., part of Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), to support expanded food production capacity and strengthen environmental performance across Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras.
A commemorative ceremony was held on 20 November 2025, followed by the loan disbursement on 21 November. The timing aligns with the 2025 Japan–Central America Friendship Year, marking 90 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and five Central American nations.
The loan is co-financed with IDB Invest and Proparco, and forms part of a broader effort to improve food access, create employment and accelerate decarbonisation across the region’s agricultural and food supply chains.
Under the Project for Food Access Improvement and Employment Promotion in Central America, funding will support the expansion and decarbonisation of food processing plants, upgrades to feed manufacturing facilities, enhanced waste management in meat processing, and the growth of small restaurant chains operated by CMI. These investments are designed to strengthen regional food security, improve production efficiency and create new jobs across the three countries.
JICA’s financing will enable CMI group companies to upgrade production lines, expand sales networks, invest in equipment that reduces environmental impact and support working capital needs for business expansion.
The project directly contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
The initiative forms part of JICA’s SAFE Facility (Facility for Supporting Agricultural supply chain and Food security Enhancement), launched in 2023 to strengthen food systems and resilience across developing economies.
