
The methodologies developed by the Comisión Nacional de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa (CONAMYPE) to promote women’s entrepreneurship have been established as a benchmark for Latin America, according to its president, Paul Steiner, during a radio interview.
Steiner explained that the recognition was confirmed to CONAMYPE by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighting that the tools and methodologies implemented by the institution to support women entrepreneurs have achieved regional relevance. “I am very proud of this, but it is also a boost for the team that has truly done excellent work for a long time”, he said.
The president of CONAMYPE noted that the methodology has evolved over time. Initially, it focused on the incubation of new businesses, that is, on supporting people seeking to turn an idea into a company. However, it was later expanded to incorporate business acceleration processes, aimed at businesses that are already operating and need tools to grow and consolidate.

One of the programs that reflects this model is Mujer Emprende which recently graduated 281 women from new business incubation programs, with support from European Union funds in El Salvador. Steiner highlighted that several participants had already begun operating their businesses even before completing the program.
Complementing this effort is Mujer y Negocios focused on accelerating existing businesses. In this process, women entrepreneurs receive support to scale their businesses, improve their structure, and strengthen their growth potential.
CONAMYPE’s methodology addresses three main areas. The first is building an entrepreneurial culture through the development of soft skills, leadership, team management, creativity, and decision-making abilities. The second focuses on business management, while the third concentrates on product and business model development, including identifying elements that differentiate it in the market.

Steiner also emphasized that the programs include mechanisms to facilitate access to financial resources. He explained that European Union funds currently exist that allow for supplementing training with non-repayable capital, intended to support the launch of businesses.
Regional recognition of these methodologies positions El Salvador as a leader in developing tools to strengthen women-led businesses and opens the possibility that these experiences can be leveraged in other Latin American countries. For CONAMYPE, the goal is to continue refining these models so that more women can transform their ideas into sustainable businesses and strengthen companies that are already operating.
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