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Mandates
The highest level mandate received on this matter comes from the Declaration and Plan of Action of the IV Summit of the Americas , held in November 2005 in the city of Mar del Plata . The Heads of Government and State recognized that “ that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, providers of goods and services, constitute a fundamental component for economic growth, job creation, and reduction of poverty and social inequality in our countries” (Paragraph 5 of the Declaration of Mar del Plata) . They committed to promote and support actions to facilitate the participation of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in domestic markets and international trade, supporting the SME Congress of the America, as well as fostering the development of entrepreneurial skills and technical competence of SMEs, with the objective of facilitating their entry into new markets, aimed at strengthening SMEs and consequently increasing employment (Paragraphs 51 – 53 of the Declaration of Mar del Plata) . They requested support from international organizations to encourage the exchange of experience with regard to the role of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and access to procurement programs, in the creation of productive jobs, development of competitive skills, reduction of the informal sector, and the fight against poverty (Paragraph 36 of the Plan of Action of Mar del Plata ) . They also encouraged the establishment of mechanisms to exchange good practices and innovative approaches for the development of micro, small, and medium-sized companies (Paragraph 37 of the Plan of Action of Mar del Plata ).
The Department of Social Development and Employment also receives a mandate from the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML), where sectoral authorities, gathered at the XIV IACML in Mexico City, reaffirmed their “ commitment to promote and encourage local, national, and regional policies and programs for innovation in science, technology, and engineering, in support of entrepreneurship, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and other production units, whose expansion, competitiveness, and global productivity will contribute to the growth of private investment and the generation of employment”( Paragraph 18 of the Declaration of Mexico ). They requested the OAS to continue updating its Portfolio of Programs to Support Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises; exchanging information on Summit activities related to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; supporting the activities of the SME Congress of the Americas whose first meeting took place in Chile in 2004; and facilitating, in consultation with the IACML, activities to continue moving forward in the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship in this sector ( (Paragraph 10 (e) of the Plan of Action of México). .
IV Summit of the Americas |
