President Obama’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit earlier this year sent a clear message to the world that entrepreneurship has the power to heal divides between nations and expand human welfare.  It also recognized the role entrepreneurs around the world play in expanding their economies.  Reporting in today from Campos de Jordao about 4 hours outside of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on one of my final stops for GEW, I am even more convinced that the entrepreneurial culture knows no national boundaries.

As part of the finale of Global Entrepreneurship Week, President Obama has again echoed this theme being trumpeted around the world this week by declaring one day of Global Entrepreneurship Week, National Entrepreneurs' Day in the United States.  After hearing from thousands of people through a Twitter campaign campaign led by two entrepreneurs, David Hauser and Siamak Taghaddos, the President proclaimed November 19th of this year and every Friday of Global Entrepreneurship Week thereafter a National Entrepreneurs´ Day. This is a great achievement not just for entrepreneurs, but for the U.S. as a nation where entrepreneurs have been the backbone and source for economic strength and innovation.  It is also an opportunity for other nations to do this same.

History, as well as recent data, constantly reminds Americans how important entrepreneurs are, so a day set aside to honor their contributions is well deserved.  The entrepreneurial spirit is what made the U.S. possible, starting with the first settlers of the nation. In fact, it was strange that one of the most entrepreneurial nations in the world did not have a day to remind everyone of this honorable career path. Most recently, data revealed that startup firms have been responsible for all net job creation for all but seven years for which the United States has data going back to 1977. Even during recessionary years, job creation at startups has proven resilient, confirming that entrepreneurs really are the lifeblood of the economy, creating tremendous wealth, innovations and valuable jobs.

Beyond these reasons, an officially proclaimed National Entrepreneurs´ Day generates cultural capital for entrepreneurs.  As Taghados told Inc., the hope is that if there is a day recognizing entrepreneurs, “it would help this president and future presidents, senators, and politicians think about entrepreneurs when they're making decisions.”

We are honored that Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA will now have this day as part of the American annual celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit.  However we urge heads of state across the world to follow President Obama’s leadership and legitimize their own entrepreneurs with similar proclamations for the Friday of Global Entrepreneurship Week.  Who knows, maybe entrepreneurs might after all be that common force for economic and political stability our planet so needs.

tags: Ortmans