Every April 16 we celebrate in Peru on Entrepreneur’s Day, a date that more than commemorate, invites us to reflect on the fundamental role that the entrepreneur plays in the economic and social development of our country. But what is to undertake in Peru? In many cases it is a necessity, a creative response to the challenges of informality, unemployment and the access gaps to opportunities. It is, in many cases, a sample of resilience, ingenuity and determination.
Peru is undoubtedly an entrepreneurial country. According to the Global Entreneurship Monitor (GEM), about 40% of Peruvian adults are involved at some stage of the entrepreneurial process, which positions us among the countries with the greatest entrepreneurial spirit in Latin America. However, this figure also reveals a complex reality: although the desire to undertake is high, the sustainability of ventures remains low.
According to the Comex (2023) report on micro and small businesses in Peru, only 50% of enterprises survive beyond five years. This figure reveals an urgent reality: it is not enough to have a good idea, an ecosystem is needed that accompanies the entrepreneur beyond the first steps. To ensure the sustainability of business, it is essential that these incorporate innovation and added value in their proposals, but also that they receive the necessary support, access to capital, digitalization and formalization. These elements cannot remain promises; They must translate into concrete actions that strengthen the entrepreneurial fabric of the country.
From the Romero Foundation, we have been committed to the impulse of entrepreneurship in Peru for more than two decades. Through our training programs, we have provided about two million scholarships in entrepreneurship courses, tools to turn ideas into sustainable businesses. Because we firmly believe that knowledge is the first capital of an entrepreneur.
But we are also aware that, in an increasingly digital global context, the challenges are greater. Although 80% of the Peruvian population has Internet access, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), only 42% of Peruvians in rural areas have access to digital platforms, which limits access to tools necessary to improve their skills and competences. This digital gap not only restricts its growth, but it prevents them from competing on equal terms.
However, the good news is that Peru has everything necessary to build an entrepreneurial economy: talent, creativity and will. We just need to align efforts. Public Sector, Private Sector, Academy and Civil Society We must work together to build an environment that favors innovation, reward the effort and reduce entry barriers.
On this entrepreneurial day, let’s not only celebrate those who dared to start. Let us recognize that behind each venture there is a history of overcoming, a personal dream and a specific contribution to the country. Because every time we support an entrepreneur, we are betting on a more fair, more productive and more prosperous Peru.
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