Bizkaia has presented the 'Basic Triple Balance Entrepreneurship Guide, showing its commitment to sustainable entrepreneurship. This guide complements the work of entrepreneurs, social, economic and operating organizations, with the aim of raising awareness of sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line.

The Regional Deputy for Employment, Social Cohesion and Equality of Bizkaia, Teresa Laespada, presented the 'Basic Triple Balance Entrepreneurship Guide' last June 18. The event was attended by the following: municipalities, Bizkaia entrepreneurs and more than 100 entities of the Basque entrepreneurial ecosystem that make up the Sarekin Network, including the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce. This document seeks to promote an entrepreneurial model that balances economic profitability with social and environmental impact, in line with the vision of sustainable and regenerative capitalism.

According to the Observatory of Entrepreneurship, Bizkaia's entrepreneurial fabric consists of traditional small businesses, freelancers and micro-enterprises, and not technology-based startups. These entrepreneurs need comprehensive support, ranging from project feasibility to training and financing. Since 2015, as Teresa Laespada highlighted, self-employment aid has helped the creation of more than 9,361 companies, with an investment of over 48 million euros.

The guide invites entrepreneurs to reflect on key aspects of the entrepreneurial process, tailored to the circumstances and environment of each business, and includes examples of good practices for raising awareness of sustainability. The guide is structured around three main axes:

- Social balance: People are not another resource, they give meaning to companies: the people who work and produce, the customers, the environment that offers or collaborates...

- Environmental balance: Being aware of and taking care of the impact of the activity on its environment.

- Economic balance sheet: It should not be the only operational logic to measure the impact of a business activity. The business model that only seeks to maximize economic profit has become obsolete.

The guide was created online, the result of three sessions and the collective effort of the Sarekin Network. This process was also supported by the Business Association, Triple Balance SANNAS and its Triple Balance Improvement Tool. This collaborative and open approach not only reflects the values ​​of the Triple Bottom Line, as it aims to measure and improve the economic, environmental and social impact that a business creates on people and the immediate environment.

Chamber of Bizkaia

The Chamber of Commerce is an institution of public law and private management, and has the following mission:

- To represent, promote and defend the general interests of trade, industry, services and the maritime sector.

- Providing services to companies.

- Carrying out all the necessary activities to promote the economy of Bizkaia.

The Chamber is a consultative and collaborative body with Public Administrations, and before them they represent the general interests of companies. As its objectives are of social and economic importance, the Law stipulates that all companies will automatically be included in the local Register. In order to promote active participation in organizations that are in line with the general interests of the Chamber, the Chamber participates in several Organizations that have Representation. The control of expenditure is guaranteed by the external Audit, and all accounting and budget operations are inspected by the Administration under the Trusteeship, the Department of Tourism, Trade and Consumerism of the Basque Government.

Government Bodies

The Governing Bodies of the Chamber are as follows: the Plenary Meeting, the Executive Committee and the President. The operational mechanisms for functioning are: plenary meetings, advisory committees (permanent groups to advise government bodies, specialized in specific sectors or areas and without decision-making power) and working groups (occasional and limited in time, focused on the study of specific issues).

- The General Assembly is the highest governing and representative body of the Chamber. It consists of border companies and people who have a great reputation in the economic field of the Chamber's district, they are democratically elected every four years.

- The Executive Committee is the permanent management, administration and proposal body of the Chamber.

- The President is the representative of the Chamber, he is the head of all multi-member bodies of the Chamber and is responsible for the execution of the decisions of the Chamber.

Positions in government bodies are unpaid.

The Chamber represents the interests of all Bizkaia companies, as it integrates representatives from the different economic sectors of the Provincial Territory (the companies are democratically elected, according to their economic weight).

Chambers of the Atlantic Arch

The seventeen chamber presidents that make up the Atlantic Arc signed the following statement on June 21, 2023, which defines the challenges and six main lines of work for the Atlantic region.

Camarabilbao activities memory

Once again this year, the activities of the Chamber are focused on supporting the development of Bizkaia companies, to help overcome daily challenges, to facilitate knowledge in matters that improve management and to maintain competitiveness.