G20 YES Mexico – An overview

At the beginning of June, 2012, 20 young entrepreneurs from across Canada, along with 400 other young entrepreneurs from across all G20 countries wrapped up the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit (G20 YES) in Mexico City.

The summit had many highlights, but I’d like to point out a couple of them. During three full days of activities, the delegates discussed and debated ideas that all culminated in the writing of a final communique. This communiqué calls upon the G20 World Leaders to see entrepreneurship as an answer to the issues we are currently facing around youth unemployment and slow economic growth. One of the major highlights of the Summit was having all the delegates attend a meeting with President Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico and the host of next weeks’ G20 Leaders Summit. President Calderón promised the delegates that he would take our communiqué into the Leaders Summit on our behalf.  Needless to say, the young entrepreneurs received that news as a major vote of confidence in their ideas, and their work.

Another highlight for our Canadian delegates was a two hour meeting at the Canadian Embassy with Canada’s Ambassador to Mexico, Ms. Sara Hradecky and a number of the Embassy’s Economic Counsellors. This meeting went so well, that several of the delegates set up meetings with Economic Counsellors for the next day- to explore possible opportunities for their businesses in Mexico.

All in all, this was a fantastic Summit, where our delegates were engaged and active, and proved once again, that Canadian young entrepreneurs are a strong voice and champion on the world stage, championing the cause of entrepreneurship throughout the G20! All of them should be proud of their achievements!