For others, it is a reminder of a life-changing decision: to open a business, sustain it, and make it grow in an environment that rarely plays in their favor. In Mexico, starting a business is a necessity, a vocation, and in many cases, a personal bet that involves risk, effort, and resilience every day. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the heart of the Mexican economy. They are businesses that don't make the headlines, but they sustain the country. However, starting a business in Mexico remains an uphill battle. Informality continues to grow, access to financing is limited, digitalization is not happening at the necessary speed, and, most importantly, there is a lack of real support. Every business that grows generates employment, revitalizes its community, and builds development from the ground up. In the current context, where Mexico has the opportunity to integrate more strongly into global value chains, the role of small businesses is even more relevant. The time has come to act so that this effort does not depend solely on individual will, but on an environment that truly supports, drives, and facilitates growth. Because starting a business in Mexico will continue to be difficult. But today, more than ever, growth is possible. What happens when the entrepreneur returns to their business? Because opening a business is one thing, and knowing how to make it grow, how to make it competitive, and how to sustain it over time is another entirely. For years, the entrepreneurial ecosystem was filled with speeches, good intentions, and programs that did not always land in the reality of the person behind the counter or a small operation. From COPARMEX, we understand this challenge because we live it every day. This ecosystem is designed to address specific needs: assess a company's situation, define a growth path, develop key skills, and connect with strategic allies to make progress possible. This initiative is more than just a digital project; it is COPARMEX's bet so that any entrepreneur, regardless of the size of their business or the region they are in, has access to useful information to strengthen, innovate, and grow. The goal is to support 100,000 MSMEs across the country. We are entrepreneurs, no matter the size of our companies. Today is commemorated as Entrepreneurship Day. This year, more than 8,000 participants found tools, solutions, and allies to strengthen their businesses. The real challenge is the day after. Because entrepreneurship should not be a solitary path. Today, technology allows something that was previously unthinkable: to bring knowledge, tools, and support networks to any business, regardless of its size or location. That is the opportunity before us. Strengthening MSMEs is a country strategy. Who supports them? It is at that point where we take the next step with 'Crece Mi Negocio', a platform powered by artificial intelligence. How does it move forward? There is no sustainable growth without them. Therefore, on Entrepreneurship Day, more than celebrating, it is time to recognize and act. Recognize those who every day open the curtain of their business and bet on moving forward. We know what it means to pay a payroll, face uncertainty, and make decisions with incomplete information. That is why the International Fair of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, FIIE, was born—a space designed not to inspire from a distance, but to accompany from practice. For many, it may just be another date on the calendar. 5.5 million economic units generate almost 28 million jobs, and more than 70% of those jobs depend directly on MSMEs. They are the corner store, the mechanic's workshop, the family restaurant, the beauty salon.
