2024 GEC Conference – Impact of Corporate Diplomacy on Entrepreneurship + Digital Economies

Summary

At this year's Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Puerto Rico, Meridian’s Vice President of External Affairs, Puru Trivedi, led a panel discussion titled “Impact of Corporate Diplomacy on Entrepreneurship + Digital Economies.” This significant gathering brought together thousands of private sector actors, including founders, investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurship ecosystem builders, to explore a visionary roadmap aimed at fostering a more vibrant and thriving Latin American and Caribbean economy by 2035.

Here are some­ top takeaways from the panel:

1. Corporate diplomacy is important for entrepreneurs and SMEs to engage with government and expand internationally. It involves skills like stakeholder mapping, negotiations, and understanding different protocols.

2. Chambers of Commerce are valuable for entrepreneurs to gain access to resources, networking opportunities, and open doors to policymakers.

3. Puerto Rico offers strategic advantages for businesses like its location, regulatory structure, and mature infrastructure supporting high-tech industries. But challenges around funding and talent remain.

4. Collaboration between government, private sector, NGOs, and entrepreneurs is key to address issues like lack of information on incentives and permanent business closures.

5. Small businesses globally face common barriers like limited access to information and influence on policymakers. Strengthening nonprofit advocacy organizations can help amplify their voices.