The voice of Latin American SMEs will be heard from Tenerife.
In the heart of the Atlantic, between three continents and with its feet firmly planted in Europe, Tenerife is preparing to take on a leading role in the Ibero-American economic dialogue. It is no coincidence: its history, its geostrategic position and its commitment to sustainable development and innovation make it an ideal place to host major conversations about the future.
With the support of CEOE Tenerife, and in conjunction with the Consejo de Empresarios Iberoamericanos (CEIB), the Secretaría General Iberoamericana (SEGIB), the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo de Tenerife, the island will host the 7th Ibero-American MSME Forum for the first time.
An official event of the Business Meeting of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will bring together institutions, business organisations and SMEs from across the region on 27-28 November 2025. This forum represents much more than a business meeting. It is a platform for rethinking the economic model from the local to the global; a space where micro, small and medium-sized enterprises - which support 99% of the Ibero-American productive fabric - will be the protagonists of change.
Because to speak of SMEs in Latin America is to speak of employment, of territory, of real opportunities. And in this context, Tenerife not only offers a meeting place, but also a value proposition that connects culture, economy and future.
The VII MSME Forum gets off to a strong start
The institutional breakfast presentation brought together key representatives of the Ibero-American economic and political sphere at the headquarters of CEOE Tenerife.
The official presentation ceremony of the VII Ibero-American MSME Forum brought together business representatives, public authorities and local, national and international media, in a meeting that marked the official launch of this strategic event for small and medium-sized enterprises in Ibero-America.
During the event, the role of the Canary Islands as a bridge between continents and as host of a forum that seeks to strengthen dialogue between governments, business organisations and SMEs, around key challenges such as internationalisation, sustainability and digital transformation, was highlighted.
“The Canary Islands can and should be on the agenda of the big business talks in the Ibero-American sphere”.”
For Pedro Alfonso, president of CEOE Tenerife, the holding of the 7th Ibero-American MSME Forum on the island will mark a turning point in relations between small and medium-sized enterprises in Latin America, Spain, Africa and the European Union, consolidating the role of the Canary Islands as an international node for business development.
“We have a lot to offer as an operational and fiscal platform for those looking for an entry point to Europe, Africa or Latin America”.”
CEOE Tenerife highlights the competitive advantage offered by the Islands, with their differential tools, such as the REF and within it, especially the ZEC, which, together with the free trade zones, allow business activity to be developed with significant incentives and conditions that are unique in Europe.
“Get involved, participate, network. It's not just about attending, it's about getting involved, connecting with other markets and making visible all that our SMEs can contribute”.”
«The Canary Islands are a bridge between continents, an engine of progress and an area of real opportunities for companies».»
From the General Secretariat of CEOE Tenerife, Elena Vela leads the internal coordination of the VII Ibero-American Forum. With a strategic and operational vision, she highlights the transformative dimension of this event, not only for its impact on SMEs, but also for what it means for the institutional projection of the employers' association and the region.
“This forum not only represents a key meeting point for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, but also acts as a loudspeaker of the potential of the Canary Islands and of CEOE Tenerife as a reference entity in the Ibero-American sphere”.”
In his opinion, placing Tenerife on the map of international business cooperation reinforces the organisation's image, its capacity for dialogue and the value it brings as an agent committed to economic and social transformation.