Tuesday, 20 July 2021 13:10

CENPROMYPE seeks to rehabilitate Central American MSMEs through the "SICA Forum"

Written by Alondra Gutiérrez

As one of its first actions in the regional framework under the pro-tempore presidency, the "High-level SICA Forum for the economic reactivation of MSMEs" is being held, which seeks to rehabilitate Central American micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through timely financial solutions, promotion of innovation and support for entrepreneurs.

Costa Rica, through the Ministry of Economy, Industria y Comercio (MEIC) has assumed the pro-tempore presidency of the Centro Regional de Promoción de la MIPYME (CENPROMYPE), the specialized body of the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA) on MSMEs.

This forum will be held from july 20 to 22, with the participation of leaders of entrepreneurship associations and business associations; authorities and technical referents of MSME entities; experts of the platform of financial and non-financial business development services; networks of investors in the region; officials of the regional institutions of the SICA system, as well as cooperation and related organizations.

"This high-level forum comprises three work areas: financial solutions, innovation promotion and competitive entrepreneurship, which will open mechanisms for intersectoral and inter-institutional dialogue and areas of collaborative work for the generation of responses and spaces for coordination at the highest level. The current economic situation in the region and the impact on the business park in each of our countries requires comprehensive solutions that favor conditions for greater resilience of MSMEs, and this will help to maintain jobs and generate confidence in the regional business ecosystem", said Victoria Hernández, president of Cenpromype's Board of Directors and minister of Economy, Industry and Trade of Costa Rica.

CENPROMYPE is a specialized entity in MSMEs of Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA).

Each day will feature a panel of global experts for each of the three thematic areas:

Panel 1: Entrepreneurship as an engine for the economic reactivation of the region.

The fundamental bet for the reactivation of the economies of the region is the promotion of entrepreneurship. This will be a space for meeting, exchange and reflection on trends and strategies on the road to economic recovery.

Panelists:

  • Ignacio Gaitán, president INNpulsa (Colombia).
  • Bárbara Silva, executive director, Singularity University (Chile)
  • Mónica Ducoing, regional manager of the Central America and Mexico Chapter.

Panel 2: Innovation applied to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

The need to foster the capacity to develop innovation is indisputable. This will be a space to raise concrete and adaptable proposals for the region to achieve business development with a focus on innovation.

Panelists:

  • Susana Carillo, first deputy mayor of the city council of Malaga, delegate of innovation and urban digitalization.
  • Edna Rocío Bravo Ibarra, founder and director of the Innovation Laboratory of the Universidad Industrial de Santander.

Panel 3: New alternatives for financing development through MSMEs

This will be a space to talk about new financing alternatives for MSMEs to focus their development towards competitiveness and internationalization.

Panelists:

  • Isabelle Chaquiriand, president of Xcala, Latin American angel investment association.
  • Sebastián Welisiejko, policy director of the Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG).

The conference will be open to the public, so MSMEs are especially invited to participate, by registering in advance at the following link: https://forosica.cenpromype.org/login