Ibague
Ibagué did not do well in the 2024 Subnational Entrepreneurship Index, a week ago it was known that The city ranked ninth according to the analysis of the Private Competitiveness Council, Innpulsa and the Universidad del Rosario.
Caracol Radio consulted Alba Lucía García, former Secretary of Economic Development of the Mayor’s Office of Ibagué, who stated that It is the first time that this type of measurements have been made in the country.
“It’s very interesting because, in some way, Colombia is failing in entrepreneurship, the 23 cities that are measured are not doing so well in general, Ibagué is no exception. Although it is true, there is a high performance in some of the indicators, the majority pass as moderate and a separate one as low,” said García.
Likewise, he stated that This index specifically measured eight pillars that must be taken into account for investment planning of the municipal administration in actions that improve the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.
How to improve this entrepreneurship index?
“The report makes it very clear to us, We must invest in the quality of education and in programs that improve the specific skills needed for entrepreneurs given the low qualifications that we have in that pillar. We definitely have to strengthen access to financing and, although Ibagué has a good performance in the allocation of resources, it would be good if we could improve the financing offer for new companies and entrepreneurs,” he said.
García assured that There must be programs in the city that help existing companies scaleto grow and reach broader markets, which could improve its performance.
“We cannot continue to concentrate on having micro-businesses, but rather they have to become small, small medium and large medium, in this way the business environment is improved and employment is also generated, as ñapa we must encourage innovation, the generation of knowledge, for example, promoting the creation of spaces such as coworking, incubators or accelerators, of which today there is not much in the city or in the region.
At the same time, he stated that it is necessary to identify innovative projects
“This must be a job for the State, civil society, and business, and of course it is undeniable that the chain has a very representative value. There are different ways, the National Government has established a series of items that have not yet reached the city, Although it is true that the projects exist or are allocated from the national budget, we have not yet seen them in the city. The local government and the departmental government working hand in hand, as the governor and our mayor have announced, I believe can be a very good source. And we must begin to understand that we need other types of ventures,” added Alba Lucía García.
Finally he assured that You should look for young people who are in schools and universities who have a business ideato bring them together to be able to define whether that business idea is profitable or not, “We see how many companies, many ventures start, but due to poor planning they end up dying and therefore the idea of being an entrepreneur or businessman is frustrated.”
