Leaders in Uruguay debated about innovation and entrepreneurship in a meeting organised by CAF

CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, organized the first Meeting of National Leaders in Uruguay, with the objective of opening the debate and connecting the visions of different sectors regarding key subjects for the country's development, such as innovation and entrepreneurship. Close to twenty specialists, who lead large entrepreneurships in the political, economic, social, and cultural spheres, contributed their opinions, ideas, and future challenges. 

Gladis Genua, CAF's Director Representative in Uruguay, stated in the opening of the event, "This meeting is part of the activities that CAF carries out in addition to financing projects, and contribute to generate knowledge, support countries in defining public policies that promote growth and social inclusion, and allows us to have the right to be called a development bank".

At the same time, Christian Asinelli, the Institution's Director for Institutional Development, highlighted that these meetings are aimed at generating spaces for dialogue, "civic friendship", and getting to know leaders of different groups. He stated, "CAF is a development bank that does not impose recipes, but rather seeks to collaborate with the development of the countries of the region by generating spaces, dialogues, and relations. That is what we want to promote with these meetings". 

The keynote speaker of the event was renowned Uruguayan entrepreneur Nicolás Jodal, co-founder and CEO of Genexus. Before his presentation, he warned, "I do not intend to be right about what I say, what I want is to make you think". After the presentation the participants were able to exchange points of view in two sessions, one regarding innovation, and the other about entrepreneurship. 

Based on his experience, Jodal reflected on the origin of innovative ideas, highlighting the relevance of big data management, adaptation, transformation capacity and identification of new problems, and the production of ideas, all intangible aspects that imply the assumption of risks as a main challenge.  

At the same time, the entrepreneur encouraged participants to implement ideas that do not seem all good. "Why not?" is the key question that entrepreneurs must make themselves, he assured. 

Álvaro García, Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, expressed similar views. He stated that to advance in these areas, the country must eradicate "that Uruguayan habit of saying that things have always been done that way", which ends up justifying inaction and putting the breaks on development. He stated, "Nowadays we should aim at being more productive, better, different". 

During the debates, the different participants contributed their ideas and perspectives regarding the future, and coincided that Uruguay is an ideal country to function as a test bank for social innovation. For this, it is necessary to improve education, promote creativity since childhood, promote and provide possibilities for entrepreneurs, and above all, abandon the culture of "it can´t be done".  

In addition, they concluded that it is necessary to break with the idea held regionally that entrepreneurs are irresponsible people because they assume greater risks. 

They also said that it is necessary to be clear about the fact that entrepreneurship is not only relevant in the entrepreneurial sphere, bu it also has the capacity to transform reality from areas such as culture, education, and the environment, among others, making it necessary to promote it with a comprehensive vision. 

On the other hand, the participants agreed that Latin America has a great capacity for resilience, as a result of the flexibility that its inhabitants have developed to adapt to the frequent changes in the region.