Project Merlin wins Logyca Prize for Innovation in Value Chain 2010

(Bogotá, May 19, 2010).-The Project Methods of Logistical Reinvention of Agro-Export Business (Merlin) - led by the CAF Competitiveness Support Program (PAC), the Foundation for Development, and Jorge Tadeo Lozano University - received the Logyca Prize for Innovation in the Value Chain 2010 awarded by the Logyca Foundation.

Awarding the prize in the category Generation of Scenarios for Development of Competitiveness, the jury formed by national and international experts in logistics recognized an important component of innovation which will reduce costs, generate more value added to exports, and recover profitability in various sectors.

The objective of the Merlin project, which has two phases (June 2006 to June 2007 and September 2008 to September 2010), is deliver to Colombian exporters logistics models specialized in multimodal transport, a mix of land and sea transport, in order to improve the levels of competitiveness of Colombian fruit, vegetables, aromatic herbs and flowers on international markets, while preserving their quality and rapid delivery.

The Logyca Foundation is an organization specializing in logistics with over 20 years of experience which helps business to promote and develop best practices in logistics.

The Merlin project is also supported by the Colombian Flower Exporters Association (Asocolflores), National Foreign Trade Association (Analdex), Proexport, Bogota Chamber of Commerce, National Training Service (SENA), and the Colombian Horticultural Association (Asohofrucol).