The Canary Islands Council for the Support of Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment and SMEs has unanimously approved the new Plan for the Support of Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment and SMEs in the Canary Islands, a regional instrument aimed at promoting and consolidating self-employment as a fundamental pillar for job creation, increased productivity and the strengthening of competitiveness in the archipelago.
From this moment on, the administrative procedures begin for its subsequent approval by the Governing Council and the Regional Parliament.
The Vice President of the Government of the Canary Islands and Minister of Economy, Industry, Commerce, and Self-Employed Workers, Manuel Domínguez, emphasized that entrepreneurs are the cornerstone of the islands' productive fabric. "To diversify our economy, we need a clear strategy that promotes employability and entrepreneurship as engines of transformation. This plan is committed to a resilient, sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem connected to the territory and society," he stated.
The plan is structured around five main pillars: integrality, transversality, sustainability, territorial and sectoral focus, and adaptability.
The Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León, emphasized that the document "integrates training, advising, innovation, access to financing, public-private cooperation, and administrative simplification as interconnected levers to promote entrepreneurship."
"Our goal is to promote culture and entrepreneurial talent, guaranteeing equal access to financing and resources, facilitating public support, and consolidating collaborative networks," he added.
Among the measures aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial culture, the plan includes the promotion of entrepreneurship from basic to university education, the promotion of entrepreneurial values and role models, the strengthening of practical learning, creativity, and institutional recognition.
Regarding the development of entrepreneurial talent, the document includes actions such as the implementation of integrated training systems in key competencies (EntreComp), professional accreditation, personalized advice, and mentoring programs.
To improve access to financing and markets, streamlining access to microcredits, guarantees, public-private conversion schemes, and diversified investment sources is planned, in addition to prioritizing internationalization and innovative public procurement.
The Plan also incorporates measures for administrative simplification, reduction of burdens and times, territorial adaptation of aid, and the creation of one-stop shops. It also promotes institutional coordination, the use of emerging technologies, decentralization, and the application of tax incentives.
In order to consolidate the Canary Islands' entrepreneurial ecosystem, the creation of collaborative networks, the integration of agents and resources, the strengthening of technological and innovation infrastructures, and the promotion of clusters and collaboration laboratories are proposed.
The number of self-employed workers in the Canary Islands is growing
At the close of September 2025, the Canary Islands reached a record figure of 145,600 self-employed workers, representing an increase of 1.97% compared to the same month in 2024. The archipelago was the third autonomous community with the highest percentage growth of self-employed workers, behind only the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands.