CACIF Joven led the day with a vision focused on business development and the active participation of youth in the country's progress. Since its creation in 2017 as a technical commission of the organized business sector, CACIF Joven has sought to open spaces for young entrepreneurs and business owners to begin their journey within trade associations and strengthen their role as agents of change. Its mission is to promote leadership committed to the economic and social development of Guatemala, guided by three strategic pillars: entrepreneurship, education, and public advocacy.
Through its program Guatemala Next: Jóvenes Generando Futuro (Youth Generating Future), they foster collaboration among young business owners, entrepreneurs, and trade representatives, creating a laboratory of ideas where solutions to the country's challenges are built. In this regional edition in Xela, the working groups addressed topics such as the youth business ecosystem, education and talent development, technology and digitalization, infrastructure and development, and political advocacy and regulatory framework.
During the meeting, participants identified common problems such as the difficulty of accessing formal financing, the disconnect between education and the labor market, and the lack of legal certainty. From these discussions, proposals emerged focused on strengthening business formalization, boosting technical education, promoting digital innovation, and creating conditions that favor youth entrepreneurship. All of this within the framework of a shared vision: a competitive, institutional Guatemala with real opportunities for new generations.
From the National Civic Movement (MCN) we support this effort, reaffirming the duties and rights corresponding to us according to Article 136 of the Constitution, which establishes the obligation to participate, ensure the freedom of suffrage, and defend the alternation in the exercise of power. These principles are the basis for maintaining a free and functional Republic.
We also recalled the three lines of defense of the Republic: the individual and their freedom, active citizenship, and institutions. From the MCN, we work to strengthen these three dimensions through civic education, critical thinking, informed participation, and ethical leadership. We firmly believe that freedom is sustained when citizens assume their role with responsibility and a vision for the country.
The joint work between CACIF Joven and the National Civic Movement demonstrated that active citizenship and business leadership can not only coexist but also empower each other. We share the conviction that the future is built with action, training, and dialogue. The Republic remains alive when citizen participation and business leadership work hand in hand. Let's continue generating the future.