The Ministry of Culture (MiCultura), as part of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of Panama's Independence of Spain, launched the "National Cooperativism Competition, Marta Matamoros," which aims to create sensitivities about the Solidarity Economy in Cultural and Creative Industries.

In addition, MiCultura will provide a non-reimbursable fund to stimulate and promote the creation of cultural workers' associations and cooperatives.

The incumbent of the MiCultura, Carlos Aguilar Navarro emphasized that this was the first contest of the ministry with the name of a woman and at this occasion in honor of trade union player Marta Matamoros, defender of the trade union rights of working women, political activist and proponent of profession.

Through this contest, "the government led by President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen and Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo, complies with two of the four pillars of the action plan: the fight against poverty and inequality and a competitive economy that generates jobs and also implements priority action 94, of the Government Plan that aims to promote the development of Cultural and Creative Industries," stated Minister Aguilar Navarro.

With the support of the autonomous Panamanian Institute of Cooperativism and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Authority, training and resources will be provided with the aim of promoting local community development and the generation of sustainable social cultural enterprises that are more competitive in the market.

Maru Gálvez, national director of Creative Economics at MiCultura, highlighted the choice of Marta Matamoros as a logo for this contest, as a great union woman born at St. Anne's 14th Street, place of the first "Creative District."

Galvez explained that "the contest is oriented to cooperatives already established with a maximum of two years of creation to propose projects related to the Creative Economy, Solidarity, Circular and / or Community Economics, Food Security and / or Environmental Sustainability and Gender Approach.

The best five projects will be chosen and will be awarded with non-replaceable funds for 2,000.00 pat. "

Those interested in participating can register up to 1 July 2021 and have to send their applications to the mailicc @ MiCultura.gob.paand the competition's regulatory bases can be found on the pagehttps: / / creaenpanama.gob.pa / # downloads

The launch was witnessed by Minister of Labour and Labour Development Doris Zapata, Assistant Director (IPACOOP) Edgardo Reyes, Administrator of the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (AMSMEs), Oscar Ramos and representatives of the National Workers Centre of Panama (CNT), Juan Samaniego, Luzmila Sánchez and Zelideth Rosales.