The Southern Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce celebrated its annual convention NexoSur 2023 at the Puerto Rico Fair Complex in Ponce, where experts from the business and labor sectors offered talks on labor legislation, innovation, economic development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, occupational health, and safety, among other topics. Paulson Puerto Rico was proud to be part of the prominent panel Economic Development Perspectives, which also featured Lcdo. Salvador Rovira, president of the Southern Puerto Rico Economic Development District (EDD) Organization, and Fernando Rodríguez, president of Prime Janitorial Services, moderated by CPA Luis Torres Llompart, director of Alvarado Tax & Business Advisors.
The panel provided business owners in southern Puerto Rico with efficient tools to generate capital by benefiting from EDD funds, a federally designated organization responsible for maintaining and implementing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, as described by Lcdo. Rovira. Attendees then heard two success stories from companies that have multiplied their finances, positively impacting Puerto Rico’s economy. Rolando Padua explained how Paulson Puerto Rico, established in 2013, has contributed $10.5 billion through the local industry. He revealed the company’s investment philosophy, stating that they dedicate $130 million annually in payroll to human capital, $300 million in direct reinvestments, and $500 million in residential development. The company is known for its participation in the hotel industry; however, part of its success has been due to a diversified portfolio that includes real estate, hotels, restaurants, and auto dealerships, among other businesses. Over the past ten years, the company has reinvested most of its profits back into its businesses and the economy of Puerto Rico. In this way, they can support the overall economic development of the Island while becoming partners in the community, committed to creating a better future.
Another interesting story was presented by Rodríguez, the incoming president of the CCS, a dynamic entrepreneur leading initiatives in organizational change, system development, design, and process management. His company, Prime Janitorial Services, focuses on planning and decision-making, organizing, leading, and controlling human, financial, physical, information, and operational resources. “Maximizing the resources of business management is my primary goal,” he expressed, as his company is results-oriented and follows daily work activities while introducing new action plans.
The Economic Development Perspectives panel, along with the other talks, allowed small and medium-sized merchants to access strategic information, providing visibility in acquiring resources and financial opportunities that drive their business growth and that of Puerto Rico.
Engineer Luis R. Vázquez Rivera, the current president of the Southern Chamber of Commerce, stated that “at the Southern Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to transforming our ecosystem. We remain focused on empowering the development of entrepreneurs and merchants in our region to drive economic growth in the area. At NexoSur 2023, our partners and guests found valuable, relevant, and pertinent information to help business owners scale their operations to the next level.”
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