Colombia. iNNpulsa is the Business Growth Management Unit of the Colombian Government, created in February 2012 to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and productivity as axes for business development and competitiveness in Colombia.
In 2016, the World Bank highlighted iNNpulsa as a key and leading institution in the country's productive development, thanks to the implementation of entrepreneurship, innovation and business productivity programs for the country and the region.
We met the General Manager of iNNpulsa, Juan Carlos Garavito, during the Endeavor conference on April 25. He is an economist from the Carlos III University of Madrid, with a postgraduate degree in Strategic Finance from the University of Oxford. Garavito returned to Colombia in 2011 and was appointed Manager of the Productive Transformation Program (PTP), of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and has worked in the sectors of technology, communications, innovation, research and development, industrial and intellectual property.
He assumed the position of General Manager of iNNpulsa on October 10 last year and his presence has been noticed in the field of ICT. Speaking to TVyVideo+Radio he commented:
Luis Pinto: How are the technological changes facing the cable television distribution industry in the country being considered?
Juan Carlos Garavito: We are facing changes in the television system worldwide, what we support from iNNpulsa for this type of emerging technologies, is based on connecting with entrepreneurs, indicating how they should do it and what are those structures that have to land in each of their companies to benefit from this new trend that is coming, we have to change, the world is changing, it is evolving and in the end, the whole issue of television and the Internet also comes in a new model and what we are trying to do is to connect entrepreneurs and technologies through the Ministry of ICT, so that they are intervening this type of aid and that entrepreneurs can make their transformations.
Luis Pinto: Has iNNpulsa already created a specific line for investment and support for advances in technology and connectivity?
Juan Carlos Garavito: That must come from both parties, many have already made a topic of technological surveillance for this sector and see realistically what those needs are and those projects to develop, independently they can also look for us in iNNpulsa to see how we can support and see that so many entrepreneurs belong to these industries and let's say that they have innovative ideas that already have a validation in the market, I think that is important and that is why we invite you to approach iNNpulsa to above all get to know us and see how we can support you.
Luis Pinto: Should entrepreneurs accommodate one of the existing support lines or do they approach iNNpulsa and you create a new line that supports them?
Juan Carlos Garavito: Initially the businessmen are accommodating to the lines of support that they are already walking, regardless many times because of the meetings that we have with the entrepreneurs, we begin to adapt our instruments so that more and more entrepreneurs can benefit in the country, we are always open as the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism for any need or any support that requires in matters of accompaniment or information that we can provide them.
For projects presented in Cundinamarca, 48 entrepreneurs have benefited with the not inconsiderable figure of $ 14,849,099,940 in co-financing projects, we are in a good time to explore this type of support to the industry, dress the page and attend the business meetings that will most likely have the participation of Mr. Juan Carlos Garavito, more than $ 11,000 million will be guaranteed in 2017, to support Colombian entrepreneurs, are you measured?
In the Business Development Area, iNNpulsa works for the profitable and sustained growth of companies, promoting sophistication, productivity, the adoption of new technologies and the productive inclusion of communities. All this in order to increase the competitiveness of Colombian companies, support the closing of gaps to access new markets and strengthen capacities at the regional level. To achieve these objectives, the entity exercises its actions through four strategic lines:
1. Business Capabilities: Advancing programs that allow the development of business capabilities to improve their productivity, scale their operation and reach new markets.
2. Regional Competitiveness: Supporting the economic growth of the regions through the strengthening of their institutional capacities and supporting productive bets aimed at sectors with the capacity to sophisticate their offer.
3. ICT appropriation: Stimulating the adoption and use of ICT as a means of development to increase productivity and business growth.
4. Productive Inclusion: Promoting the productive development of vulnerable communities and groups as a tool for social progress, support for entrepreneurial capacities and competitiveness in the country.
Text written by Luis Pinto, advisor of TvyVideo+Radio.
