STRATEGY Colón: Change begins with me

Por Mí”, para ocasionar un cambio de actitud y forma de pensar frente a las adversidades. La verdad es que no podemos solos, pero estamos tratando. Sabemos que cada quién desde su espacio puede aportar de acuerdo con sus posibilidades. Sólo con un cambio de actitud en donde todos trabajemos en equipo lograremos salir adelante. ¿Si no lo hacemos nosotros, entonces quién?, ¿Si no es ahora, entonces cuándo?. (Revista Conexión, META 2022)

PALABRA DE COLONENSE

“Es una pena que perdamos tanto el tiempo pensando que las cosas en Colón puedan cambiar... en vez de cambiar las cosas, sin perder tanto el tiempo.”

Michael Chen, presidente de la Cámara de Comercio, Industrias y Agricultura de Colón.

COLÓN: CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME

BY: MICHAEL CHEN/ PRESIDENT OF THE COLUMBUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRIES AND AGRICULTURE

His youth does not conflict with his capacity for reflection or his seriousness when talking about Colón, his province. Paradoxically, he is the youngest president of the oldest Chamber of Commerce in the country. It must be remembered that the Chamber of Commerce of Colón was founded in 1911, when the republic was barely 8 years old.

Michael Chen is the product of a new generation of leaders who had the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge by comparing realities in different parts of the world. He studied at the Colegio Internacional del Caribe in the city of Colón and then studied at the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business in the United States.

Perhaps that allowed him to understand the global nature of trade from his operational universe and confront it with a social reality that he knows as well as that of Columbus.

His business experience is applied as manager of the Vanidades Group, one of the oldest and most iconic companies in the province, and his greatest challenge as a resident of Colon is today being president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Colon, from where he proposes a new vision, full of social commitment.

I imagine that you are repeatedly asked how to change Colon?

I am not an expert nor do I have 100% of the answers. However, I am sure that together we can do something to change it. In these months that I have been at the head of the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industries of Colón, I have understood that the entrepreneurs of the Free Zone, the ports, the mine and the city, and I even dare to say that, of all our country, the population sees us very distant. The population, and very especially the young people, see us through the barrier and the walls of the Free Zone, the ports, the companies.

Is that distance insurmountable between the business Columbus and the people of the province?

It is undeniable to see that in Colón there are situations of poverty and desperation coexisting with a commercial enclave that cannot be found. That is why I mean that together we can contribute to resolving the situation. Private enterprise cannot do it alone. We need to build alliances that last five years. The most outstanding entrepreneurs are often excellent at what they do, but that is no longer enough. We believe that we are safe from everything by doing what we know how to do well, always in the private sphere. That no longer works in societies like ours where corruption and “play alive” rule. What we have not realized is that to be truly successful we need our environment to be as well. In the times we live in, it is no longer enough to provide jobs. Now our world demands businesses and companies that do business, with leaders committed to going the extra mile. These are the words of a Colonense. Unfortunately, few have understood this.

Could it be that we leave this task to the politicians, to the State and do not take part in the solution processes?

Not participating costs money, it is very expensive. The question I ask is: Do we want to continue paying dearly? Sooner or later the problems of others become yours. In a very respectful way I make a call for attention. Whatever your trench, I urge you to make a change. I encourage you to get involved! This does not mean that you have to go into politics. There are always other ways to contribute. As for local and national governments, every time a government comes, it comes with its own little book, that’s not bad. But, is Colonense’s will really being taken into account? Every time plans are changed it costs money. We have the Harrison-Price Plan, the Atkins Plan, the Vision 2050 Plan, there are many plans. We are experts in the art of talking a lot, planning a lot, but doing little. It is time to lower barriers, take into account the will of our society and combine a single vision to guarantee true sustainable development over time.

Is a state plan or a government plan needed?

A plan is needed that takes into account EVERYONE! And as for civil society, as for me and you, you will ask yourself: what can we do? Let’s start with the basics. With those small actions that seem insignificant, such as disposing of the garbage properly, having good manners, acting with integrity and values, giving our best face and service to those who visit us, but which cause and generate great changes. A large number of small acts of kindness and good deeds make a big difference in the world. That’s why I tell you that change begins with me and with you, one colonense at a time. What is the use of having the best city with the best buildings if we are not going to take care of them ourselves? What good is it for us to have the best economic reactivation with tourism, if we are not going to offer an excellent service? What is the use of having the best education if we do not apply it with values and principles? It’s a shame that we waste so much time thinking that things in Colón can change... instead of changing things, without wasting so much time. If we really wanted to, maybe the future could be written in another way, and dream of a better Columbus. From the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industries of Colón, as a private entity, we have already begun a process of change to promote Colón, among which we can mention the projects: “Colón Experience”, to promote tourism, “Transform yourself to achieve New Opportunities” to improve skills that allow our population to access the labor market and the “Change Begins With Me” program, to cause a change of attitude and way of thinking in the face of adversity. The truth is that we cannot alone, but we are trying. We know that everyone from their space can contribute according to their possibilities. Only with a change of attitude where we all work as a team will we be able to get ahead. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? (Connection Magazine, META 2022)

COLONENSE WORD

“It is a shame that we waste so much time thinking that things in Colón can change... instead of changing things, without wasting so much time.”

Michael Chen, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Colón