New alternative to promote entrepreneurship in Ibero-America

The International Meeting on Entrepreneurship and Youth took place in Madrid to strengthen the creation of spaces that promote the development of proposals regarding innovation and entrepreneurship. The event is part of the activities framed by the alliance between CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, and the Youth International Organization for Ibero-America (OIJ, for its acronym in Spanish), supported by the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB, for its acronym in Spanish), the Red Emprendia and the COTEC Foundation.    

The i-Emprende project was presented in the meeting. It is a working program that will help link innovating ideas with entrepreneurial experiences. In addition to constituting an exchange network for the younger population, this initiative aspires to become a source of inputs for the development of solutions regarding entrepreneurship.  The working sessions, which are part of the activities framed within the CAF-OIJ alliance, included the participation of more than 40 entrepreneurs of the public and private sectors, who shared their experiences with the participants. Different international organizations addressing the subject of youth and entrepreneurship supported the organization of the event. 

Are we taking actions in entrepreneurship? 

The meeting included a working panel that helped exchange views regarding the current status of public policies regarding entrepreneurship. Leandro Gorgal, Executive of CAF's Direction of Institutional Development, stated that "from the point of view of economic development, it is necessary to place the subject of entrepreneurship, specifically youth entrepreneurship, within the problems of dynamism in Latin America's productivity". 

Gorgal presented the conclusions of a report developed by CAF in 2013, which described the main characteristics of productive entrepreneurship in Latin America. He explained, "This study reflects the need to develop comprehensive strategies to support youths, which include aspects linked to the development of entrepreneurial talent, promotion of innovation, access to financing, and training of labor force, among others".  

The event was closed with the intervention of Rebeca Grynspan, Ibero-American Secretary General, who announced the participation of Ibero-American youths involved in the i-Emprende Initiative in the XXV Ibero-American SUmmit of Heads of State and Government which will take place in October of this year in the city of Cartagena, Colombia, where the main topic will be precisely "Youth, Entrepreneurship, and Education".