Oriental hosts innovation in entrepreneurship talk
Álvaro Fischer, president of Fundación Chile
Álvaro Fischer, president of Fundación Chile, was recently invited to address entrepreneurs from Oriental Bank’s commercial banking division, on the topic of innovation in entrepreneurship and available opportunities for Puerto Rico’s economic development.
During the breakfast event hosted by Oriental CEO José Rafael Fernández, guests and Fischer were able to exchange ideas and agree that there is room for multi-sector efforts that will create a sustained and dynamic development process that will increase income levels and quality of life on the island.
Fernández pointed out the importance of discussing the energy reform, the tax system and the government structure as an opportunity to promote the optimization of a sustainable system that is attractive for economic development.
“It’s not only about achieving business objectives and successfully overcoming daily challenges in our operations, but also realizing that with leadership comes great responsibility and a serious commitment to the future of our [island],” he said.
“As leaders, we have a responsibility to become agents of change to start working as a team, headed in the same direction. This effort includes the private and public sectors, nonprofit organizations and the community who, with a single voice and sense of urgency act as an engine that can create huge changes,” Fernández said as a prelude to Fisher’s message.
Fischer noted that achieving a public-private partnership, combined with the diversity of actors in the ecosystem, can produce innovation and a model of sustainable economic development.
“Persistence and consistency are important when working on an idea, even when the system surrounding it is risky. We must promote the incorporation of technological innovation in productive enterprises, using the national innovation ecosystem,” he told attendees.
After the discussion, guests had the opportunity to talk with Fischer and Fernández, as well as establish dialogues between industries focusing on economic development opportunities for the island.
