About GEN in Panama

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) began operating in Panama in 2012 through a partnership with Junior Achievement Panama to organize the country's annual Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) campaign. Since its inception, Jorge Luis Burgos, founding Executive Director of Junior Achievement Panama, has represented GEN in Panama, helping connect the country's entrepreneurial ecosystem with the global entrepreneurship movement. Under his leadership, GEW Panama has brought together entrepreneurs, educators, investors, business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneur support organizations to promote entrepreneurship and strengthen collaboration across the country's innovation ecosystem. Each year, the campaign features conferences, workshops, mentoring sessions, business competitions, networking events, and educational activities designed to inspire future entrepreneurs while supporting the growth of startups and small businesses.

Over the years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded into one of Panama's leading entrepreneurship initiatives. What began as a collaboration led by Junior Achievement Panama evolved into a nationwide effort involving universities, private sector organizations, government agencies, incubators, accelerators, and innovation support institutions, such as Ciudad del Saber.

A significant milestone came during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2016, when public and private sector leaders signed the National Entrepreneurship Pact. The agreement established a shared commitment to strengthening Panama's entrepreneurial ecosystem by promoting cooperation among government institutions, universities, businesses, and entrepreneur support organizations while positioning entrepreneurship as a national development priority.

Government institutions have continued expanding their participation in the campaign. The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT), the Authority for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (AMPYME), universities, chambers of commerce, and other organizations have used Global Entrepreneurship Week as a platform to promote innovation, digital entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial education, and public-private collaboration.