During Global Entrepreneurship Week, held from November 13-19, 2017, the U.S. Embassy participated in a series of activities to strengthen the entrepreneurial culture in El Salvador hosted by the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) through its Technological Innovation Program (PROINNOVA). The U.S. Embassy, through the U.S. Department of State Educational and Cultural Affairs Office, hosted Cheryl Edison, a U.S. entrepreneur and global business development expert to participate as an expert speaker for this series.
Throughout the week, Ms. Edison shared her experience in launching successful companies, products and services in new markets around the world and discussed the development of global trade.She provided advice to more than 40 entrepreneurs at the Impact Hub on effective strategies to adapt to the new global business trends. Additionally, she gave a conference hall presentation entitled “Developing an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in El Salvador” to representatives of the Ministry of Education NGOs, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry of El Salvador (CAMARASAL), the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI), ICT House, various Salvadoran Universities, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Outside of formal presentations, Ms. Edison had conversations with with more than 60 entrepreneurs, students and alumni of the Mónica Herrera School of Communication , with the winners of BT7 (an entrepreneurship contest), members of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) and US government representatives of WeAmericas and USAID Economic Competitiveness Project