Inaugura Chile su Centro para el Desarrollo de Negocios (SBDC) número 51 con la presencia de la Presidente Michelle Bachelet y la Embajadora de EE.UU. en Chile Carol Perez. El año pasado los CDN chilenos atendieron a 44,000 PYMES y crearon más de 26,000 empleos.
El CDN (SBDC) son el resultado de una iniciativa del Presidente Obama llamada Small Business Network of the Americas (persiguen entre otros objetivos el desarrollo incluyente, la diversificación y la competitividad de las PYMES en el Continente Americano. Hasta el momento los SBDCs, a través del SBNA se han expandido a más de 20 países en el Continente. La meta del SBNA es apoyar en forma colectiva a más de 100,000 PYMES por año y conectar los mercados respectivos mercados nacionales por vías del comercio internacional creando una exitosa y productiva red de redes continentales.
Sharing photos from today’s event signaling completion of the SBDC network in Chile, Centro de Desarrollo de Negocios #51. The ceremony was presided by President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, her Minister of Economy Luis Céspedes, and the U.S. Ambassador to Chile Carol Perez.
President Bachelet recognized and thanked the U.S. Government and also UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development, for their role in coaching the Ministry of Economy’s small business agency SERCOTEC to adapt and implement the SBDC program.
A nationwide network of 51 Centers is now complete, and has already delivered impressive results serving over 15,000 Chilean entrepreneurs in this past year. Chilean national development plans are to diversify their economy beyond basic commodities, and stimulate more inclusive growth including their extensive rural territory in addition to urban centers.
UTSA will continue supporting the young CDN network to generate economic impacts, and an internationalization phase ahead connecting Chilean entrepreneurs with US small businesses through the 1,000 offices of Americas Small Business Development Center Network.
To-date, this State Department initiative to build the Small Business Network of the Americas has established 154 SBDCs across Latin America and the Caribbean. Partner countries are responsible to support and operate their own Centers, applying a common and proven methodology of the U.S. SBDCs. In 2016 these Centers supported 44,400 small business entrepreneurs with consulting and training, creating 6,000 start-ups and 26,000 new jobs in the region.
Inclusive development, diversification, competitiveness and trade for small-business dominant economies are common themes across the western hemisphere. The Small Business Network to the Americas has expanded to over 20 countries working together to advance this cause. The ultimate goal of SBNA is to support 100,000 small business projects annually through this network, and connect our respective small business markets for trade, competitiveness and prosperity among the U.S. and our partners.
Thanks to the many partners among you who share this vision, and collaborate to make the Small Business Network of the Americas a reality! -Bob
Robert McKinley, MPA
Senior Associate Vice President
for Economic Development
University of Texas at San Antonio
