IPEX opens grants of up to 5,630 euros for food products in Central America

The Castilla-La Mancha Foreign Promotion Institute (IPEX) has announced grants for the grouped participation of agri-food companies from the region in the Food Presentation in Guatemala and Panama 2027, an action that will take place from February 22 to 26, 2027. The call is approved by the Resolution of 10/15/2026, signed by the director of the organization, Paloma Sánchez Garrido, and is published in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha number 203, dated October 22, 2026, section III, with the official reference [2026/7609] and the abstract BDNS 936044.

Two markets and a business round format

The action is structured around two product presentations: February 23 in Guatemala City (Guatemala) and February 25 in Panama City (Panama). The 22nd, 24th, and 26th are reserved for guided visits to points of sale in both cities, adjusted to the flights of the participating companies.

The design is showroom-style: importers, distributors, and other professionals freely roam the space and move between the companies’ tables, tasting products and holding commercial meetings, with the possibility of arranging prior appointments. Each firm will have a table equipped with tableware. If the minimum of eight companies is not reached, the activity could be converted into a direct trade mission with individual agendas.

IPEX justifies the choice of destination based on the interest of both markets: Guatemala for its demographic size and the development of its modern channel, and Panama for its position as a regional logistics platform and its dependence on food imports. Olive oil, wine, cheeses, canned goods, and other gourmet products appear as the best positioned, although the document warns of competition from US products and price sensitivity.

Ten beneficiaries and 56,300 euros in credit

The call sets a maximum of ten beneficiary companies and a credit of 56,300 euros charged to the IPEX 2027 budget, program 751B, item 47573, PEP OOAA/1000000495. As this is an advance processing, the aid is subject to the existence of adequate and sufficient credit in 2027, and the total amount could increase by up to an additional 40%.

The grant covers 80% of the expenses, with these maximum amounts per company:

• Participation fee in Guatemala: 1,625 euros in eligible costs and 1,300 euros in aid.
• Participation fee in Panama: 1,312.50 euros in costs and 1,050 euros in aid.
• Travel for one person: 2,500 euros in costs and 2,000 euros in aid.
• Transport of samples: 1,600 euros in costs and 1,280 euros in aid.
• Total: 7,037.50 euros in costs and 5,630 euros in aid.

Companies, natural persons registered in the RETA, clusters, cooperatives, community of assets, and for-profit business groupings, as well as the management and representation bodies of protected geographical indications and protected designations of origin, may apply for the grants. Foundations, public companies and bodies, and public administrations are excluded.

Deadline until November 9 and scoring criteria

The application period extends from the day following the publication of the call until November 9, 2026, via an electronic form with an electronic signature at the electronic headquarters of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. The processing is the responsibility of the administration department of IPEX, and the evaluation is conducted by a technical commission consisting of two technicians from the promotion department.

The criteria total a maximum of 100 points:

• Own export department (30 points) or external (15 points).
• Website in Spanish and English (15 points) or in three or more languages (30 points).
• Previous editions of the action: never participated (30 points), one to three (20 points), and more than three (10 points).
• Activity in priority areas of Law 5/2017, delimited by Decree 52/2018: 10 points.

The grants are de minimis in nature according to Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, with a limit of 300,000 euros per company over three years. Additionally, 30% of the credit is reserved for applicants from sparsely populated areas or areas at risk of depopulation. The maximum period for resolution is three months, with negative administrative silence, and an administrative appeal may be filed against the resolution before the Consejería de Economía, Empresas y Empleo. The justification must be submitted in the month following the completion of the action.

Impact for the sector

The call opens an entry route to two Central American markets for SMEs and regulatory councils of designations of origin that do not have their own structure in the area, with public support for 80% of the cost and an access threshold that specifically favors those who have never participated in these types of actions. The regulatory bases are Order 152/2022, of July 29, of the Consejería de Economía, Empresas y Empleo.

Source: Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha, no. 203, October 22, 2026, section III, page 37393 (official reference: 2026/7609).