Understanding the Diversity Among MSMEs
MSMEs in Sonora differ from those in Oaxaca due to varying needs and sectors, making a one-size-fits-all public policy challenging. Pedro Martínez, the regional director for Latin America at the Aspen Institute for Entrepreneurship Development (Anden), explains that the average lifespan of MSMEs in Hermosillo, Chihuahua, and Nuevo León is only 2.2 years.
Isabel Madrazo, head of office at the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), highlights that a crucial aspect often overlooked is understanding the diversity of businesses in Mexico, which creates a barrier to addressing the needs of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Challenges in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
During the panel “Impulsar para transformar: El rol del ecosistema para los emprendedores y las mipymes” at the Impact Days 2025, both experts discussed problems within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Pedro Martínez noted that many Mexicans prefer managing multiple microbusinesses instead of focusing on growing a single company, partly due to public policy focusing more on medium and large enterprises.
As a result, microentrepreneurs struggle to grow due to market unfamiliarity, insufficient team capabilities, and inadequate training programs tailored to various businesses.
“Support programs for businesses should not target individuals but rather the entire team, as building a company is a team effort and challenging to accomplish alone.”
Factors for Public Policy Focused on MSMEs
Given the diversity of MSMEs, which constitute 99.8% of national businesses according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), panelists identified factors that could enhance public policies:
- Understanding who MSMEs are: To ensure equitable support, it’s essential to delve deeper into regions across the country to better comprehend their needs.
- Digital complaint module: Insecurity is a significant reason for MSME closures or stagnant growth, as they are exposed to extortion and fraud.
- Improved business program design: Since training programs cater to specific entrepreneur profiles, panelists suggest monitoring and creating metrics to gather more accurate data on entrepreneurs and their needs.
- Support networks for microentrepreneurs: To encourage continuous development, microentrepreneurs need specialized spaces to build support networks for their sector.
“Sometimes, they have resources but don’t know how to leverage them effectively. Therefore, spaces are needed to genuinely listen to the needs of business owners,” says Isabel Madrazo.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the main challenges faced by MSMEs in Mexico? Challenges include market unfamiliarity, insufficient team capabilities, and inadequate training programs tailored to various businesses.
- Why is understanding MSME diversity crucial for public policy? To ensure equitable support, it’s essential to delve deeper into regions across the country to better comprehend their unique needs.
- What measures can address insecurity affecting MSMEs? A digital complaint module can help tackle issues like extortion and fraud, enhancing the security of MSMEs.
- How can business programs better serve diverse entrepreneurs? Monitoring and creating metrics for training programs will provide more accurate data on entrepreneurs’ needs, enabling better program design and customization.
- Why are support networks important for microentrepreneurs? These networks help microentrepreneurs effectively utilize resources and address their specific needs, fostering continuous development.
