Since the early 1990, UNIDO has been involved in Latin America. The following pages present four cases, namely that of Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Jamaica.

The case of Honduras represents a project which evolved from the creation of SME networks into the establishment of a specialized institution acting as a networking promotion agency. The case of Nicaragua illustrates three main points: first, how, as a result of its success with network brokering, a project has achieved significant influence on policy making at the national level; second, the importance of capacity building of local business development service providers; and third, how the principles of economies of scale and scope govern the delivery of support services.  The case of Mexico highlights a project promoting vertical integration. And, finally, the case of Jamaica presents an example of entry at the highest institutional level (where the effort to bring about cluster-based development lies at the operational core of the national SME support agency) and of the creation of specialized service centres for garments, fashion, furniture, etc.

An in-depth analysis of the cluster programme in the four countries and for specific references to the activities implemented in Latin America is available in the paper  "SME Clusters and Network Development in Developing Countries: The Experience of UNIDO". (PDF/90KB/28pages)

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