President Piñera launches SME Week: “SMEs are the backbone, soul and spirit of our country”

President Sebastián Piñera this Monday kicked off SME Week where he highlighted the role these companies play in creating jobs, developing the country and the effort they make everyday.

The President also stated that the Government is committed to providing more and better opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

“We want to firmly express our Government’s commitment to facilitating and promoting the birth, growth and development of SMEs”, he said during a ceremony at the Plaza de la Constitución, accompanied by the ministers of Economy, José Ramón Valente, Transport, Gloria Hutt, and Energy, Susana Jiménez.

President Piñera also recalled the initiatives already launched that enable SMEs to continue developing, including the 30-day payment bill, a tax reform bill, the National Office of Productivity and Entrepreneurship, the “Digitaliza tu Pyme” (Digitalize your SME) along with the “Chile Emprende” (Chile Enterprises) programs, among others.

“SMEs are the backbone, soul and spirit of our country”, said the President, adding that, “you will have a huge opportunity to contribute to the development of your business and families, but, above all, to the growth of our country”. The ceremony also featured a presentation by Gonzalo Montenegro, known as “SuperPan” (SuperBread), an entrepreneur who owns a bakery and was named 2018 National SME by the Ministry of Economy, with support from the “Almacenes de Chile” (Shops of Chile) program run by Sercotec (Technical Cooperation Service).

Lastly, the President said that the priority of the Government is to ensure the growth of the country, the creation of jobs and increase investment. He concluded the ceremony by visiting each one of the exhibition stands of the entrepreneurs.

SME Week is being held from 12 to 16 November and showcases 18 SME entrepreneurs.