• The Riopaila Castilla Agroindustrial Group will accompany the development of 20 new projects with socio-environmental and economic impact, located in municipalities of Valle del Cauca and northern Cauca, in its second edition of the 'Riopaila Castilla Competitive Fund'.

• In addition to the financial support provided to the projects, the company provides technical support to promote these community initiatives as part of its commitment to territorial development and its commitment to the development of Colombia.

Cali, October 2023. Twenty community projects in towns in southwestern Colombia will have the economic and technical support of the Riopaila Castilla Agroindustrial Group for their development. This was announced by the organization after choosing the winners of the second call for the Riopaila Castilla Más Competitive Fund, an initiative with which the company contributes to territorial development in its areas of direct operation.

These are initiatives led by community action boards, foundations, associations and social organizations with socio-environmental and economic approaches in their territories. For this purpose, Riopaila Castilla provided a fund of $250 million with which it will contribute to the development of each of these initiatives, explained Guillermo Carvajal, manager of Corporate Affairs of the company.

“The Competitive Fund responds to the Environmental, Social and Governance strategy outlined by our company with which we seek to generate territorial development, with long-term benefits for both the company, society and the planet. These projects chosen in the second edition of the fund will positively impact 28 thousand people in the aforementioned municipalities,” he explained during the presentation of the winners that took place in the city of Cali.

The projects will be developed in the municipalities of Florida, Pradera, Zarzal, Obando and Bugalagrande, in Valle del Cauca; and in the municipalities of Padilla and Miranda, in the north of Cauca. Sandra Girón, president of the Community Action Board of the La Holland village, in Padilla, Cauca, highlighted the benefits of belonging to the Competitive Fund which, in her case, has allowed 20 entrepreneurial women from her community to carry out their project. of laying hens.

“It is a project that is sustainable, that not only helps the women of the village but also their families. We have some laying hens, and we sell the eggs they produce for the consumption of our families. Riopaila Castilla helped us with the animals, with the materials for the construction of the shed, they have followed us up and have not left us alone," explained the community leader, about this initiative selected in the second call and that will receive support to strengthen this venture. .