A contribution from the academy to the competitiveness of artisans and mipymes. Project 17-2017

Abstract

It is praiseworthy the way that artisans and micro entrepreneurs dodge adversities of all kinds, to endure with their activities. To develop these businesses being competitive is a challenge that many times achieve empirically, or by imitation. Despite the existence of laws, codes and regulations in benefit of the final consumer if they want to import, the ignorance of these regulations implies that the business owners have high production costs. The commercial intermediation increases the prices to the final consumer of machinery or vital inputs for their productive activities. This speculative factor often is what puts Ecuadorian artisans or entrepreneurs at a disadvantage, having high operating costs that are reflected in the final price of their products that cannot compete with its similar imported, even with tax barriers created to protect domestic production. The intervention of the university in these areas (social, economic, labor or from the point of view you want to see) is diversifying the student vision giving attention to this sector that promises more working experiences and application of the knowledge imparted to the students in the classrooms. Squads of students identify artisans and microentrepreneurs with import needs, the necessary consultations are made to proceed with a proper advice on the importation of inputs or machinery that is viable for the potential importer. It has been evidenced in many of these import simulations, that the products that our advised people need, are marketed locally with profit margins that are highly speculative.