INTRODUCTION TO THE
STUDY CASE
Yumbo is the oldest and one of the most relevant
industrial zones in Colombia. Currently there are located 461 big companies.
Why? for its advantageous geographical position (close to a maritime port
(Buenaventura) and to the airport), good road infrastructure and municipal tax
incentives. These reasons together with an increasing urban growth and the high
possibility to access the national market were and still are fundamental to
attract foreign investors (1).
The entrepreneurial
sector in Yumbo is apparently well organized; in 1982 it created FEDY, which is
the Entrepreneurial Foundation for Yumbo´s Development. This is a non-lucrative
organization that aims to improve the life quality of the inhabitants by promoting,
leading and executing social, economic, political and cultural development in a
cooperative network between the government, firms and the community. Business
management is one of the working branches of this entity, which projects have been
related to topics such as road infrastructure, public services, environment, mobility,
security, local taxes and municipal development plan. Recently it is working in
a project called PREZI that aims to improve the regional infrastructure to
avoid damages from floods (4). It is also coordinating the MEPY, an entrepreneurial
table pro-Yumbo to support local government plans (2).
Although less
common, there are also strategic connections related to products and their
production processes. For example, companies such as The Paper Producer S.A., Propal
and Colombian Cardboard strategically
set in the region to produce paper from the sugar cane bagasse, which is the prime
culture of the entire state (Valle del Cauca). The local government currently allocates
around €117000 to the promotion of associations and alliances for entrepreneurial
and industrial development (1). Public information of these alliances is not
easily available.
In spite of
all previous information, in May of this year was published an article titled “Yumbo Enterpreneurs, men of few alliances”.
In here is concluded that “Yumbo´s entrepreneurs are not prompt to strategic
alliances (49%), neither go to the academy in search for innovations. Most don´t
know the governmental entities that can boost their new ideas; they look for
alliances only to have access to financial resources” (3).
In October
of 2012 the entrepreneurial sector and local government signed The Agreement for Transparency, where
all actors committed to work for Yumbo´s development under ethical parameters
that allows the achievement of common goals (2). This clearly shows there is an
evident lack of trust mainly between entrepreneurs and the local government
that needs to be reestablished for the good of the whole region.
WHICH TYPE OF NETWORK IS THIS?
Yumbo industrial
zone seems to fit better into the coordination mechanism of private interest
and government, because the entrepreneurial sector is constant compared to the
changing local government. There is a constituted entity even physically
located (5), that represents the sector (2).
However the
relations created within this network are not based on material, energy or
knowledge exchange, and even though there is not enough information to clearly
explain the relation of Yumbo firms with external parties, it can be assumed
there are many, as in most cases the consumers and providers are located out of
the region/system(3). This network is mainly based on the creation of value as FEDY´s
projects are especially about social responsibility. Also, around 60% of the
companies were or are in the process of ISO certification to fulfil
environmental standards and industries’ grouping is stimulated by issues such
as public security.
There is a
slight reference to a network based on rule construction, as there is one that
avoids selling properties bigger than 300m2 and only 30% of it can
be built; the remaining 70% must be restored and or preserved (4). This is an
obvious restriction to the establishment of new companies but is being
reassessed.
INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY OR INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION?
Personally,
this type of network doesn´t fit tightly into any of the categories given by Gordon
and MacCaan (2000). It is an agglomeration because the region offers good conditions
for industrial development and entrepreneurs come together to solve common issues
like road infrastructure, public services and local taxes. It is a social
network because social responsibility is a feature of every project, by directly
promoting training and employment and indirectly by common issues mentioned
above. The industrial cluster is the less evident from the three categories and
owing to low trust this information may not be found on the web.
As an
Industrial Ecologist I would find both, constrains and advantages from the
current situation. Constrains because of the very few material-based
connections. I wouldn´t assure this is to avoid dependence, it simply seems that firms
don´t know their neighbors, at least in terms of their internal processes, less
on their by-products and their possible use. They are reserved, their
innovations come from their own employees and don´t trust the local government
to support them.
The great
advantage is the clear starting point for a future implementation of the field
of Industrial Ecology; this is FEDY. Its background together with the current
projects can prepare the network for a stage that focuses on internal potential
connections and the settlement of new resulting industries.
- http://www.yumbo.gov.co/portalcamy/index.php/indus
- http://www.fedy.org.co/alianza-empresarial-por-yumbo.html
- http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/cali/investigacion-de-caracterizacion-de-tejido-empresarial-de-yumbo/14024736
- http://elpueblo.com.co/el-pezi-y-yumbo-una-apuesta-al-futuro-industrial-del-valle-del-cauca/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXoQ1CmxvcA
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