The newly formed Startup Nations South Africa (SUNSA) will make its debut at the global gathering of startup champions, researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders part of the global network in Mexico City next November.
Disrupt Africa reported earlier this month South Africa had become the first African country to join the global Startup Nations network, with SUNSA formed through a collaboration between the Innovation Hub, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Wits Business School.
The project is focused on advancing the national agenda for entrepreneurship and the creation of a sustainable environment where startups and small businesses can meaningfully contribute to the country’s economic and social development.
SUNSA will appear at its first summit next year in Mexico, after the country’s Ministry of the Economy of Mexico and the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INADEM) were in their bid to host the summit.
Enrique Jacob Rocha, president of Mexico’s National Entrepreneurship Institute, expressed his gratitude to the Global Entrepreneurship Network for the selection of Mexico as host nation.
“The talent of Mexicans, together with the Federal Government’s commitment with innovation and efforts in consolidating an entrepreneurial environment, turn Mexico into an ideal ecosystem for high-impact ventures,” he said.
“The government of Mexico has demonstrated a keen grasp on the importance of entrepreneurs to a country’s economy and have taken decisive steps to institutionalise that support,” Jonathan Ortmans, president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, said. “Holding the Startup Nations Summit in Mexico City will bring additional ideas on policies and programs to help entrepreneurs start and scale new firms – while highlighting the rapid expansion of its startup ecosystem.”
Mexico is the first Latin American country to host the Startup Nations Summit, which has previously been held in Ottawa, Canada, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Seoul, South Korea.
