Startup Nations Ministerial

Startup Nations Ministerial Istanbul 2018; Ministers gathered around ministerial table

 

The Startup Nations Ministerial, to be held on Tuesday, July 16 as part of GEC+Puerto Rico, convenes government officials responsible for advancing small business, innovation and entrepreneurship throughout their economies. Participating governments from across the development spectrum engage in dialogue around their experience and policy approach to encouraging entrepreneurial growth.

This Ministerial at GEC+Puerto Rico is hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Startup Nations is a global peer community of government officials and policy advisors, launched by GEN in 2012 that provides a forum for government officials responsible for advancing small business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Each year, these leaders assemble for the Startup Nations Ministerial to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration while establishing a prioritized agenda for action. SBA co-hosted with GEN Ministerials in Milan (2015), Medellin (2016) and in Johannesburg (2017). Startup Nations Ministerials have also been held in Istanbul (2018), Manama (2019), Riyadh (2022) and Melbourne (2023). 

The Startup Nations Ministerial is complemented by a series of workshops, roundtables and meetings for government staff, policy experts and officials who share a similar challenge of finding the most effective ways for a government to stimulate entrepreneurial activity. This “Startup Nations policy track” in July 2024 offers a series of deep dives on topics including national entrepreneurship strategies and startup acts, AI policy, startup finance, soft-landing programs and more.

Agenda

09:00 AM (Optional) Bilaterals

11:00 AM Ministerial Plenary Opening and Welcome Remarks

  • Jonathan Ortmans, Founder & President, Global Entrepreneurship Network
  • Isabel Guzman, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration (United States)

11:20 AM Opening Statements from Ministers

12:30 PM Ministerial Lunch

1:30 PM Minister-Led Discussions

  • Digital Government and Digital Economy;
  • Access to Finance;
  • Trade and Resource Attraction; and,
  • Inclusion and Outreach to Underserved Markets.

3:30 PM Ministerial Photo and Press Conference

4:00 PM Close

Ministers and Ministerial Representatives

  • Bermuda: Mr. Jache Adams MP, Chairman, Bermuda Economic Development Corporation
  • Costa Rica: Hon. Mr. Francisco Gamboa Soto, Minister of Economy, Industry and Trade
  • Dominican Republic: Mr. Rogely Marte, Director for Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade
  • El Salvador: Hon. Mr. Alejandro Panameño, Director of Innovation and Competitiveness, Ministry of Economy
  • Mexico: Mr. Gibran Briones, Director of Investment Office, Ministry of Economy
  • Paraguay: Mr. Juan Paredes Romero, National Director for Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Industry and Commerce
  • Suriname: Hon. Ms. Rishma N. Kuldipsingh, Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation
  • United States: Ms. Isabela Casillas Guzman, Administrator and Chair, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • United States: Mr. Daniel Krupnick, Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration

Experts and Staff

  • Global Entrepreneurship Network: Mr. Jonathan Ortmans, Founder & President
  • Global Entrepreneurship Network: Mr. Matt Smith, Director for Policy & Research
  • U.S. Small Business Administration: Ms. Sarah Bonner, Senior International Trade Policy Specialist

Registration

To learn more about the Startup Nations Ministerial and to register your government delegation, please contact:

Disclaimers

a) Cosponsorship Authorization # 24-39-C. SBA’s participation in this Cosponsored Activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

b) Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact: Matt Smith; matt@genglobal.org | +1 (202) 683-4100

c) This website is provided as a public service under Co-sponsorship Authorization # 24-39-C. It is not an official U.S. government website and may contain links to non-U.S. government information. Inclusion of such links does not constitute or imply an endorsement by SBA. SBA is not responsible for the content, accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of linked information. Please use caution when considering a product, service or opinion offered by a linked website.