Countries Around the World Unite to Celebrate Entrepreneurship

Countries Around the World Unite to Celebrate Entrepreneurship

November 13, 2007

Effort from 17-23 November 2008 to unleash young people's
ideas to address society's biggest issues

    LONDON, Nov. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown joined Carl Schramm of the Kauffman
Foundation today in starting the countdown to Global
Entrepreneurship Week 2008, the world's biggest single
event celebrating and promoting entrepreneurship amongst
young people.

    The announcement was made at an event in London
attended by leading business figures and entrepreneurs from
around the globe, including 26 of the 37 countries signed up
to date. Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 has been founded
by Make Your Mark, the business-led, government-backed
campaign to create an enterprise culture in the UK, and the
US-based Kauffman Foundation, the world's pre-eminent
Foundation dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship. 

    "Enterprise Week has been a massive success in the
UK -- over 5,000 different events will take place this week.
From now on, it will be linked to enterprise campaigns
around the world through Global Entrepreneurship
Week," stated Prime Minister Brown. "By
unleashing the creativity and ideas of young people all
over the world, we can create the successful products and
businesses of tomorrow."

    From 17-23 November 2008, millions of people will take
part in events organised by thousands of organisations
worldwide. The Week will create the world's next generation
of entrepreneurs by inspiring people through activities and
by connecting them through online social networks. 

    Global Entrepreneurship Week will promote the benefits
of unleashing young people's entrepreneurial ideas to
address society's biggest issues, such as poverty, climate
change and sustainability.

    "Young people are involved in entrepreneurial
ventures all around the world, using their creativity,
ingenuity, and energy to start businesses and solve
problems," added Schramm. "This enterprising
spirit -- the core of Global Entrepreneurship Week -- is an
invaluable resource the world must tap as we seek to extend
the benefits of economic growth to more people across the
globe and address the complex challenges facing us
all".

    Global Entrepreneurship Week already has 37 countries
on board, and expects more to join in the coming months.
The initiative is initially supported by Global Sponsors
IBM and NYSE Euronext, as well as a host of Global
Partners, including: the United Nations Development
Programme, the Commonwealth, JA Worldwide, the Young
Americas Business Trust, Lisbon Council, Endeavor,
Entrepreneurs Organization, and Council on
Competitiveness.

    For additional information, visit
http://www.unleashingideas.org .


    For more information, please contact:

     Kauffman Foundation
     Tel:  [phone]