Panamanian Chamber of Commerce promotes engagement between young people, SMEs, and companies

The event of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama focused on young people and SMEs as actors linked to the future of business activity. (CCIAP) The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) is driving business connections to bring together young people, SMEs and companies through commitments that could continue after the gathering. A recent meeting combined dialogue, professional exchange and a dynamic aimed at turning contacts into meetings, mentorships, internships, quotes and alliances. It was noted that opening opportunities is also part of sustainability. The proposal seeks to link the business sector with small and medium-sized enterprises and young talent, with a perspective that prioritized learning and collaboration. The vice president of the CCIAP, Ashok Nandwani, called on companies to incorporate corporate social responsibility into everyday decisions and not treat it as a separate section of their activity. Ashok Nandwani, vice president of the guild, called on companies to incorporate corporate social responsibility into everyday decisions and not treat it as a separate section of their activity. (CCIAP) "Corporate social responsibility has to be intrinsically in our DNA," said Nandwani. The executive maintained that this outlook must be reflected in the treatment of teams, the development of capabilities and the creation of opportunities for other people to grow. For the vice president, sustainability is not limited to the environmental dimension. It also encompasses building organizations that can endure over time, train their staff and generate positive effects while developing their businesses. "Sometimes the great opportunities begin with something much simpler: a conversation," Nandwani noted. The Chamber seeks to promote more instances of this kind among its members and the business community. The event focused on young people and SMEs as actors linked to the future of business activity. The Chamber aims to facilitate contact between those seeking their first work experiences and companies that require specific profiles and capabilities. (CCIAP) The CCIAP aims to facilitate contact between those seeking their first work experiences and companies that require specific profiles and capabilities. Nandwani stated that the arrival of young people at companies should not be interpreted only as a corporate responsibility, and that it also represents an opportunity to incorporate different perspectives and a different relationship with technology. "The young person who joins a company brings little experience, yes, but they also arrive with new questions and with a different relationship with technology," he maintained. According to the leader, that outlook can lead organizations to review the way they carry out their tasks. The initiative is related to the Chamber's efforts to promote internships, whose purpose is to reduce the distance between young people's training and the needs companies have. Headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama, located in Panama City. The event featured the participation of Karin Sempf, CEO and founder of Innova Nation; Nicole Loré, communications specialist at Ciudad del Saber; and Luis Quiodettis, CEO of PupiloHubs. The specialists addressed the reasons why talent and organizations do not always manage to find each other. They also analyzed the expectations of new generations and the challenges of first work experiences. The dialogue included the incorporation of interns and the value of professional networks. The panelists agreed that contacts can go beyond individual exchange when they become an environment that fosters innovation, business and new opportunities. The conversation raised the need to build bridges between education, talent, companies and entrepreneurship. The goal was to promote settings where professional relationships lead to verifiable actions. Attendees used the Connections Passport as a tool to record their interests, contributions, relevant contacts and the action that would follow each exchange. The instrument sought to ensure that conversations did not remain confined to the room. The illustration shows a circular flow of resources and collaboration among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, with entrepreneurs interacting in different commercial premises. (Illustrative image Infobae) Among the alternatives promoted were follow-up meetings, presentations between companies, mentorships, quotes, commercial contacts, internship opportunities and collaboration agreements. At the close, the vice president of the Chamber linked the event's motto to his experience within a family business. He raised the challenge of preserving what allowed an organization to grow while continuing to adapt to new needs.