Over the past two years, a number of world leaders and powerful national figures have supported Global Entrepreneurship Week. Here are just a few statements 

PORTUGAL

President Anibal Cavavo Silva: “A global initiative aimed at awakening, stimulating, and motivating, especially in younger generations, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and capacity for innovation. Entrepreneurship has, as a result, new reasons to be considered the cornerstone of economic and social progress in countries.”

ISRAEL

Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu: "Today marks the beginning of Global Entrepreneurship Week... There are concrete things that the Government will advance in the economic field in order to guarantee that we maintain our qualitative edge, innovation, initiative, which are, ultimately, the key to Israelís economic advantage. Greetings to all the entrepreneurs and good luck!"

TUNISIA

President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali: “I am pleased to address my greetings and appreciation to the participants in [Global Entrepreneurship Week] and to all young entrepreneurs in the world. Youth is ambition, courage and enterprise. It is also optimism, enthusiasm, selflessness, action and creativity.  Young entrepreneurs, in our view, represent an effective elite to achieve these objectives, as well as being the leaders of opinion for tomorrow. We consider their success a success for their peoples and societies and, indeed, for mankind as a whole. We have great faith in the willpower and ambition of youth, which make us consider the future with optimism. We encourage them with all our strength, the strength of bonds between generations, to achieve further gains and further successes.”

UNITED KINGDOM

Prime Minister David Cameron: “I am delighted to send my best wishes to all the entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs who will be participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week, and for the events taking place across the UK. Businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, creating jobs and prosperity.  Especially during these difficult times, it is vital that we appreciate the role which entrepreneurship plays as a force for good.  Enterprise can be an engine of progress in meeting the wide range of challenges we face at home and across the world. Governments need to play their role too – whether it’s simplifying the corporation tax regime, supporting business mentors, or looking at how to enable those with good business ideas to access the finance they need. I am sure Global Entrepreneurship Week will help existing entrepreneurs to expand and innovate, and inspire a new generation to get involved as well.  With best wishes for a successful Week.”

FRANCE

President Nicolas Sarkozy: “Entrepreneurs carry a vision. They have the energy to develop themselves, the capacity to innovate and to create employment. We need them, their dynamism and their success to overcome this financial crisis… I therefore wish the greatest success to… Global Entrepreneurship Week.”

CHILE

Juan Andrés Fontaine, Minister of Economy: “We are committed to foster[ing] entrepreneurship and innovation in  Chile. We have set a very ambitious target of transforming Chile into a developed country during this decade. In order to get to that end we have to promote creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship”

UNITED STATES

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: “The Obama Administration is dedicated to boosting entrepreneurship both in the United States and other countries, where talent is widespread, but opportunity often is not... We can’t afford to leave out anyone who has an idea, a dream, an invention or innovation, and the desire to work hard to make that a reality... Global Entrepreneurship Week reflects a sense of collective responsibility to encourage young minds to pursue fresh ideas and unleash the full range of human potential.”

DENMARK

Brian Mikkelson, Minister of Economics and Business Affairs: “In Demark, we will now focus on renewed growth and entrepreneurship. We have to encourage everybody with an idea and the will to become an entrepreneur, to pursue their dreams. And I actually see that Global Entrepreneurship Week as one way of making this happen”

NEW ZEALAND

Prime Minister John Key: "Entrepreneurship is extremely important, if New Zealand is going to do well and be successful, in the end we're going to create good ideas and the brainpower and the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs in New Zealand to building a much stronger country. It's good that this is a global challenge and a global Week," he added. "I can't tell you what the business model of the future looks like, but it will almost certainly involve the cooperation of New Zealand entrepreneurs with companies overseas."

SAUDI ARABIA

His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz ben Abdullah Al Saud, Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud: “We proudly follow the example of His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who heartily supports the youth of Saudi Arabia and encourages their participation in entrepreneurial activities.”

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