Aguascalientes, Ags., May 14, 2024.— Dr. Irery Lizbeth Melchor Durán, a research professor at the School of Economics and Business, has been appointed to the T-MEC SME Affairs Committee for the Mexico region, representing our Panamericana University’s Aguascalientes campus.
The Ministry of Economy, in conjunction with the Senate, issued a call for applications to select members to serve on a series of committees tasked with helping to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Among these committees is the SME Affairs Committee; in Mexico, it is composed of individuals from the public, private, social, and academic sectors who belong to organizations linked to SMEs or whose primary focus is on supporting SMEs.
In this regard, our university nominated Dr. Irery Melchor Durán, who, thanks to her academic and professional experience with small and medium-sized enterprises, was appointed as one of the 18 board members.
“For me, this appointment represents a bountiful harvest of everything I’ve sown over the years, as well as a great deal of pride and joy that the University has placed its trust in me. Being part of academia and research has shown me that I am not alone; I have had the support of other researchers, businesspeople, and other key figures in the field who have shared their knowledge and experiences with me, so that I, too, can contribute to the Committee,” says Dr. Irery.
Promoting trilateral trade among SMEs
Chapter 25 of the USMCA, on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), recognizes “the vital role of SMEs in maintaining the dynamism and enhancing the competitiveness of their respective economies.” As such, it aims for Mexico, the United States, and Canada to foster close cooperation among SMEs in the three countries and to work together to promote their growth and employment.
For this reason, the SME Affairs Committee, or “SME Committee,” will be composed of government representatives from each country and has the following objectives:
- Identify ways to help small and medium-sized businesses.
- Promote greater cooperation.
- Share and analyze best practices.
- Develop and promote seminars, workshops, and other activities to inform SMEs about the benefits of the USMCA.
- Facilitate advisory services for SME programs, among other initiatives.
This establishes our Panamericana as a leading authority on entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Dr. Irery Melchor Durán
Irery Lizbeth Melchor Durán holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, a master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration. She has completed research fellowships at HEC in Montreal, Canada, and at the Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia.
She has also participated in various international conferences on SMEs in Spain and Costa Rica, where she has also contributed to several publications. In addition, she has served as a consultant for companies and projects.
She is currently a research professor and director of the Entrepreneurship Academy at the School of Economics and Business.
