Tenerife, Ibero-American Capital of SMEs: Consolidates its leadership at the closing of the VII Forum

 

The VII Ibero-American Forum of MSMEs in Tenerife concluded with a historic agreement between the public and private sectors, unifying criteria to improve the operating environment of millions of companies in Ibero-America.

 

The core of this consensus, presented by Gustavo González de Vega during the high-level dialogue, focuses on three pillars for the effective implementation of the 4T model: the systematization of practical tools , the identification and replication of successful best practices among countries, and the design of rigorous measurement and monitoring mechanisms . This commitment will be monitored with indicators to evaluate the real impact of the policies and will be reviewed at the next meeting, the VIII Paraguay Forum.

 

The essential role of small businesses

 

Over the course of the two days, the event featured the participation of more than 50 speakers , including 15 government representatives and 30 business leaders, underscoring the unity of the 22 countries of Latin America.

 

From a local perspective, the president of the Tenerife Island Council, Rosa Dávila , highlighted the island's economic dependence on these companies, asserting that the future is not measured by the size of the business, but by "the size of the talent and the effort ." She called for support for SMEs in their "expansion into new markets and value chains . "

 

For his part, Pedro Alfonso , president of CEOE Tenerife, stressed the need to recognize the potential of small businesses as "engines of wealth, employment and competitiveness ," and urged everyone to move forward together towards greater export and investment capacity.

 

The voice of concern came from Roberto Suárez of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), who warned about the need to alleviate bureaucratic burdens and the lack of digital infrastructure that “hold back millions of entrepreneurs” in the region, and reiterated that MSMEs are the “backbone of social development .” Along the same lines, Ángela de Miguel , president of CEPYME, highlighted the resilience of these companies, describing them as “silent leaders” capable of innovating in adverse circumstances.

 

The Vice President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez , took the opportunity to highlight the investment opportunities offered by the Canary Islands' economic and fiscal regime , stating that "if there is a place prepared to attract investment and new industries, that place is the Canary Islands . "

 

Roadmap for internationalization and digitalization

 

The panel discussions focused on the need to modernize and strengthen small businesses, highlighting talent, training, digitalization, and the green transition as key drivers of competitiveness. Foreign trade and internationalization were emphasized as crucial areas, with a focus on the urgent need to integrate SMEs into global value chains and improve their access to expansion.

 

At the High-Level Public-Private Dialogue , leaders agreed that investment in entrepreneurial skills , strengthening technical training , and closing the digital divide are “essential conditions” for competing in the global market. They also identified improving access to finance and digital payments , reducing informality, and creating frameworks of legal certainty and stability as priorities.

 

The day also included the presentation of a report prepared by the Institute of Economic Studies (IEE) and CEIB on the characterization of MSMEs in Latin America and the Caribbean , analyzing their main obstacles and the progress made since the Medellín Commitment.

 

Paraguay, next venue for the VIII Forum

 

The event concluded with the announcement that Paraguay will host the eighth edition in 2027. Javier Giménez , Paraguay's Minister of Industry and Commerce, expressed his country's commitment to MSMEs in its plan to double GDP over the next decade. "It is very important for us to be able to host this forum in 2027. We have a plan to double the country's GDP in the next decade, and MSMEs are fundamental to achieving this," stated the minister, who invited the region to discuss training, market access, and facilitating financing in Asunción.

 

The event, which was supported by entities such as Visa, Mapfre and Iberia Express, was closed by Pedro González , island director of the Tenerife Island Council, who stressed that “the Forum ends here, but what does not end is the conversation, it will continue in Paraguay, because dialogue and conversation will be what leads us to a better future in Ibero-America”.