If you pass through La Moneda station on Line 1 today, you will see a different name on the signs. The Ministry of Economy, Metro de Santiago and gas company Abastible symbolically renamed it "SME Week" for the day.
According to La Tercera, the change marks the start of a new edition of SME Week. The initiative aims to bring entrepreneurship closer to the public and highlight the role of small and medium-sized enterprises, known as SMEs, in creating jobs.
Participants included Daniel Mas, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism and Minister of Mining; Patricio Rey, chairman of Metro de Santiago; and Paula Jervis, Abastible's corporate manager for Legal, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.
"With SMEs, Chile moves", Mas said, adding that the aim is for thousands of people to see and recognize the contribution of those who start businesses, innovate and create jobs across the country. The phrase is also the official slogan of this edition.
Rey explained Metro's perspective. According to the executive, the network connects people with their jobs, studies and families every day, and now seeks to make its stations places where SMEs can find new customers and opportunities to grow.
The most practical new development for passengers is something else. According to Meganoticias, a special edition of Bip! cards went on sale featuring three "Condorito Emprendedor" designs, depicting the classic character from Chilean popular culture.
The cards are sold at ten stations: Baquedano, Tobalaba, Escuela Militar, Plaza de Maipú, Plaza de Puente Alto, Vespucio Norte, Bellavista de La Florida, La Cisterna, Santa Ana and La Moneda. The sources do not report their price or how many were produced.
SME Week has been held since 2012 and brings together activities promoting entrepreneurship, training, networking and support for entrepreneurs in different regions. This edition includes more than 380 activities across the country and will run until Friday, October 16. The full schedule is available on the initiative's official website.
