Reasons for joining the program:
Since I assumed my position in ANDE most of our budget and energy was dedicated to palliate the impact of SARS COV-2 on SMEs. The Agency has allocated resources and reached entrepreneurs and businesses like never has had before. It was great for the positioning of the Agency because the National Government put us on the spot and as a result, we became a national reference in public policy regarding economic development and SMEs. This year, as the pandemic hopefully will ease down, we need to focus on SMEs structural problems, which were there before 2020 and are there today still. As a result, we have many initiatives we want to execute this year.

First, we want to launch a 15 million dollar Digital Transformation Program for small companies financed by the IADB. In this regard, I think it would be very important for us to get to know other experiences on this topic, how other countries are organizing themselves to introduce small businesses in the digital era, what kind of services they provide and how, and what were the main obstacles found in the way.

Second, we are also embarked in generating a national network of organizations to make economic development services available countrywide. Related to this I’m particularly interested in learning from different experiences on economic development ecosystems, how they were built, how they work today and which are the incentives each part need in order to be successful.

The Agency is also well positioned in Circular Economy. However, we are quite new on this and I think it would be great for us to identify and generate relations with international partners to learn from their experiences. We still need to introduce ourselves in the Circular Economy International Community.

Finally, I’m sure I will be inspired and I will learn a lot about new approaches and initiatives that we still don’t have on the radar and can be totally or partially introduced in Uruguay. “

Offer:
First, I can share all my knowledge and experience accumulated in over 15 years of work and training in design and management of public policies regarding economic development, focused on SMES and entrepreneurship.

Second, as the right hand to the President of ANDE, I can introduce anyone interested in learning more and potentially collaborate with the Agency, today’s national referent regarding economic development focused on SMEs. In 2022 the Agency will be implementing more than 20 different Programs for entrepreneurs and small businesses, in areas like digital transformation, circular economy, microfinances, seed capital, entrepreneurial ecosystem promotion. In ANDE we are eager to share our experience and connect with other institutions doing similar things.

Third, ANDE is a very well-connected organization. It executes most of its programs in association with other institutions like universities and business chambers. In addition, ANDE coordinates Uruguay’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with over 100 organizations as members. If anyone is interested in getting in touch with any of these institutions, I would happily help them connect them with our partners.

Finally, in ANDE we are making a great effort to make statistical information regarding SMEs available. In the following weeks we will be launching a SMEs Monitor that will include demographic and structural statistical information about SMEs in a 15-year period. Once available, we are interested in sharing this information with others and, with the right partners, we hope we can participate in some international research work based on this in the future.