Sustainability as an Expansion Strategy: Key Factors for the Green Internationalization of MSMEs in Central America

Abstract

This article examines how green internationalization can enhance the competitiveness of Central American MSMEs by identifying the main challenges they face in adopting sustainable practices. It analyzes structural barriers such as limited access to green financing, lack of government incentives, and low integration into global value chains. A descriptive quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was used, applying surveys to 114 MSMEs from various sectors in the region. The findings indicate that while companies recognize sustainability as key to their international expansion, resource constraints and limited institutional support hinder implementation. Only 18.4% of businesses have received sustainability training, yet those that have show a higher adoption of green strategies. Furthermore, the study confirms that sustainability positively impacts international competitiveness. Limitations include the use of a non-probabilistic sample and the absence of longitudinal data, which prevents establishing causal relationships. However, the findings highlight the need to strengthen green financing policies, business training, and strategic alliances to drive the green internationalization of MSMEs in Central America. The originality of this study lies in its regional focus and the identification of innovative solutions for the sustainable internationalization of MSMEs.