“Micro, small and medium enterprises (mipymes) are essential in job creation, innovation, and social cohesion,” all participants at the I Forum of MIPYMES and Peruvian Businesswomen highlighted, held this week at the CEOE headquarters.
The objective of this meeting —organized by the CEOE, the Association of Ibero-American Businesswomen (AMEIB), and MISUR Peru, in collaboration with the Embassy of Peru in Spain— was to strengthen business cooperation between both countries, promote the internationalization of mipymes, and make visible the role of women entrepreneurs as a driver of economic growth, as well as to continue advancing policies that favor their competitiveness, access to new markets, and the strengthening of a more dynamic and inclusive business ecosystem.
The Deputy Director for the Americas of the State Secretariat for Trade, María Jesús Fernández, emphasized the close relationship between competitiveness, talent, and innovation, and highlighted that the ability to develop and manage talent is today one of the main factors of business growth. In this regard, she pointed out that barriers persist that hinder entrepreneurship and internationalization, especially among women, such as access to financing, networks, or support mechanisms.
Fernández recalled that only 14% of Spanish exporting companies are led by women, a gap that, she stated, “does not respond to a question of capacity, but to the obstacles that still persist.” She also valued the work developed by the group “Women and Internationalization,” created in 2019 to identify and reduce these barriers, as well as the incorporation of a gender perspective in support instruments for internationalization such as FIEM, CESCE, and COFIDES.
In her speech, the vice president of CEPYME and president of FACONAUTO, Marta Blázquez, stated that “talking about SMEs is talking about the real economy, about family businesses, shops, professionals, and small businesses that sustain a good part of employment and territorial development both in Spain and in Ibero-America.” In this sense, she argued that supporting small businesses should not be understood solely as an economic policy, but as a commitment to a more solid, competitive, and inclusive growth model.
“If we want more competitive economies, we need stronger small businesses. If we want more inclusive societies, we need more women leading business projects. And if we want an Ibero-America with more opportunities, we need to turn entrepreneurial talent into growth, employment, and shared well-being,” she stated. “A growing SME transforms its environment; a woman entrepreneur who advances paves the way for many others; and a business community that cooperates can multiply opportunities. That is the spirit with which we inaugurate this Forum today,” Blázquez assured.
Furthermore, Blázquez recalled that the 4T Model, arising from the VII Ibero-American Forum of Mipyme held in Tenerife, marks a common roadmap for the strengthening of the Ibero-American business fabric through talent development, boosting territories, digital and sustainable transformation, and greater traction through access to financing, markets, and value chains. She also valued the close economic relationship between Spain and Peru and the role of cooperation between business organizations and institutions to generate new growth opportunities.
For his part, the minister counselor of the Embassy of Peru in Spain, Marcos Alvarado, highlighted the role of diplomacy as a tool to bring opportunities closer to businesses and strengthen economic cooperation between both countries.
He also congratulated the organizing entities for promoting an initiative that, he hoped, would gain visibility and international projection until it becomes a reference space for business dialogue and Peruvian female leadership. In this sense, he expressed his desire for this forum to mark the beginning of a stable and lasting collaboration between the institutions and the business fabric of Spain and Peru.
After the institutional opening, the forum addressed some of the main challenges and opportunities for businesses in two discussion panels. The first, dedicated to innovation, internationalization, bilateral alliances, and investment, was moderated by Inmaculada Domecq, partner at UHY, and brought together Ana María Choquehuanca, former president of MISUR Peru and former Minister of Production of Peru; Desirée Alayza, partner at BCombinator; Kusy Lama, CEO of AJE Castellana; and commercial lawyer Carol Gutiérrez, who analyzed the investment and business collaboration opportunities between both countries, as well as the keys to boosting the competitiveness of mipymes in an increasingly international environment.
The second panel, moderated by Ivette Barreto, president of AMEIB, focused on female leadership, specialized talent, and cases of business success. It featured Daniela Campos, CEO of GirlinCorporation and Amazon Partner; Giannina Gambini, CEO of Extraordinary; and Yessenia Valencia, CEO of Valhin Asesores Energéticos, who shared their experiences as entrepreneurs and agreed on the importance of innovation, specialized training, and the creation of collaboration networks as essential elements to promote the growth of women entrepreneurs and executives.
The day concluded with an open dialogue with attendees and a networking space aimed at generating new alliances between businesses, institutions, and investors, consolidating this first forum as a meeting point to strengthen business ties between Spain and Peru and promote a more competitive and inclusive business fabric for the future.