Zacatecas and FIRA Expand Business Financing

The government of Zacatecas, through the Ministry of Economy and the Zacatecas Silver Fund Trust (Fondo Plata), has signed a collaboration agreement with the Trusts Established in Connection with Agriculture (FIRA) to allocate an additional US$9.5 million to business financing, bringing total funding to US$18.9 million, according to the state government.

Jorge Miranda Castro, Zacatecas’ Minister of Economy, and Jesús Alán Elizondo Flores, FIRA’s Director General, led the signing ceremony, which will enable the continuation of the Medium-Sized Business Financing Program (PROEM).

Castro explained that, through Fondo Plata, the state government plans to contribute an additional US$558,659 to a Guarantee Fund. This contribution is expected to be leveraged 17-fold to support business loans issued through financial intermediaries.

Elizondo Flores noted that, since the agreement with Fondo Plata was signed in June 2025, US$9.6 million has been disbursed through 86 loans, directly benefiting 15 local businesses.

He added that the collaboration is part of FIRA’s national strategy, which includes 27 agreements under the PROEM program. In Zacatecas, the institution has signed two agreements with the state government: one with the Ministry of Economy through Fondo Plata and another with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, FIRA’s Rural Financing Program provides funding for productive activities and services in communities with populations of fewer than 50,000, subject to eligibility requirements.

Under the new agreement, borrowers will be eligible for loans ranging from US$72,626 to US$1.8 million to finance investments in machinery and equipment, facility upgrades, and production capacity expansion.

Elizondo Flores added that FIRA’s outstanding loan portfolio in Zacatecas totals US$101 million.