Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, January 13, 2026.— The Universidad Panamericana participation Universidad Panamericana high-level international forums reaffirms its commitment to applied research, global dialogue, and the generation of knowledge that drives economic and social development.
In this context, Dr. Irery Melchor-Durán, a research professor at the School of Economics and Business at the Universidad Panamericana AguascalientesUniversidad Panamericana participated as an international panelist in the 4th USMCA SME Dialogue held this year in Phoenix, Arizona.
Academic Leadership and International Cooperation Under the USMCA
The USMCA SME Dialogue (T-MEC: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Dialogue) is an international forum that brings together government, business, and academic leaders from Mexico, the United States, and Canada with the aim of strengthening trilateral collaboration on issues related to trade, investment, and productive development.
This event offers SMEs in those countries the opportunity to engage with senior officials on regional trade and investment opportunities and challenges under the USMCA.
The meeting was also attended by prominent figures from the three countries, including Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, as well as senior officials responsible for trade policy and productive development in North America, such as Bradley McKinney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce; Fernando Díaz Barrero, Director General of Productive Development at Mexico’s Ministry of Economy; and Martin Moen, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister for International Trade at Global Affairs Canada.
During the discussion, a clear willingness to collaborate emerged among government officials, business leaders, and representatives from the academic community, aimed at promoting the development and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the face of the current global geopolitical and economic realignment.
Talent Development and the Future of SMEs Under the USMCA
Dr. Irery Melchor participated in the panel Training and Talent Development for SMEs: Opportunities for Future-proofing Talent Under USMCA, a forum for strategic reflection focused on talent and skills development for SMEs in North America.
The panel was moderated by Rosalyn Steward, Assistant Chief Counsel of the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, and featured international experts from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, representing the academic, business, and consulting sectors.
During her remarks, the researcher from the Universidad Panamericana that “universities are key strategic partners in strengthening collaboration among business leaders from the three countries, as they serve as builders of new business ecosystems capable of bringing together talent, knowledge, innovation, and collaboration to address the challenges of the international economic environment.”
He also emphasized the importance of business leaders fostering a sense of community and acting as “ambidextrous entrepreneurs”—capable of capitalizing on current business opportunities while simultaneously exploring new possibilities, especially in highly uncertain environments.
Innovation and new business opportunities
Dr. Melchor also encouraged people to take advantage of periods of uncertainty, noting that these create opportunities, in accordance with Serendipity Theory, which emphasizes the importance of identifying unplanned signals, responding to the unexpected, and transforming such situations into outcomes that generate value for businesses and society.
As an example, he noted that the realignment of global production chains creates opportunities for suppliers in traditional sectors, such as the automotive industry, to diversify into industries like aerospace—provided they maintain a strategic understanding of the business environment and a proactive attitude toward change.
Finally, he emphasized the need for business leaders and organizations to develop strategic skills such as cognitive flexibility, social skills, strategic acumen, and the ability to improvise—essential competencies for successfully navigating the challenges of North America’s new economic landscape.
Strengthen research collaboration
Dr. Irery Melchor-Durán’s participation in this international forum reaffirms the commitment of the Universidad Panamericana to impactful research, international collaboration, and the generation of applied knowledge, consolidating its position as a leading academic institution in shaping the region’s economic and business future.
