Narciso Casado (CEIB-CEOE) highlights the strategic role of the internationalization of SMEs for the progress of Latin America

 

The Madrid 2025 International Meeting, organized by Soft Landing World (SLW) at the Madrid City Council, became a key forum for analyzing the challenges and opportunities of the Business internationalization in Latin America.

 

During his speech, Casado emphasized CEIB's commitment to the investment in the Dominican Republic as an example of Ibero-American business support for environments that prioritize stability and economic openness.

 

Latin America as a Strategic Platform

 

Casado defended the vision of Ibero-America as a major economic and business integration platformTo realize this potential, he considered fundamental to strengthen existing regional systems, such as SIECA, Mercosur or the Pacific Alliancewhich form a crucial structure to boost trade, attract foreign capital and promote the expansion of businesses.

 

However, the Permanent Secretary recalled a persistent challenge: the low level of intraregional trade, which is located between the 15% and 20% of the total, in stark contrast to the 55%-70% recorded in Europe or Asia. Therefore, he urged the promotion of measures that facilitate this area and improve the logistics and eliminate trade barriers.

 

Narciso Casado emphasized that "it is Ibero-America's time," pointing to the opportune moment the region is experiencing to project itself globally from a base of trust, sustainability and joint action

 

The Driving Role of the Private Sector and SMEs

 

The leader of CEIB was emphatic in highlighting the importance of the public-private partnership for sustainable and inclusive development. "Public-private commitment and action is the great accelerator of growthGovernments design the frameworks, but companies are the ones that generate employment and wealth for countries. Without private initiative, there is no development."," he stated. In this context, he endorsed Rebeca Grynspan's quote: "The integration of Latin America will be achieved by..." private sector."

 

In his dialogue with Maltese, the critical importance of the Mipymes (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), which in Latin America represent the 99,5% of the business fabric and generate more than 60% of formal employmentDespite its weight in employment, its contribution to the value of regional production (25%) and exports (18%) suggests a enormous room for growth through internationalization.

 

Casado cited the case of Spain, where the number of exporting companies has gone from 50.000 to More than 180.000, an increase that today represents close to 40% of national GDP, demonstrating the capacity of internationalization to boost resilience and the develop.

 

Spanish: A Strategic Economic Asset

 

Another common factor and facilitator of internationalization highlighted by Casado is the Spanish languageshared by more than 500 million people. Beyond its cultural value, Spanish is a significant economic assetSpanish is the third most used language on the internet, the second in language tourism, and its Spanish-speaking community represents approximately 9% of world GDP"Besides being a cultural heritage of incalculable value, Spanish is a strategic economic asset "which we must continue to promote," he said.

 

To promote these objectives, the CEIB maintains its commitment to the innovation, digitalization and the creation of formal employmentProof of this is the organization of the VII Ibero-American Forum of MSMEs, which will be held on the days November 27 and 28 in TenerifeThis event will serve as a benchmark for SMEs in the region under the motto "Small businesses for big countries: Territory, Talent and Transformation", consolidating the Canary Islands and Spain as a natural bridge between Europe, Africa and Latin America.

 

Narciso Casado concluded with a firm statement on future strategy: "Internationalization is a development strategyAnd if we succeed in helping SMEs sell, grow, and export more, we will be writing a new narrative of progress for Latin America, based on talent, sustainability, and partnerships. It is The time of Ibero-America and we must know how to take advantage of it.”