Business leader calls for roadmap to reactivate economy

Marcela Galindo, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap), says that the government has a pattern of attacking problems in a segmented way, but a broad vision is needed to deal with different issues that require a complete roadmap.

She told TVN that it is necessary to work on inclusive economic growth that helps to have a better distribution of wealth and improve education, and the health system.

Although she acknowledges that the economic reactivation has been taking place, she said that this

occurs in sectors where the demand is external, that is, the Panama Canal, ports, and mining exploitation, but, although they are resources that enter the country, they do not spill over into the country.

Construction and commerce, two great generators of jobs, have had a hard time reactivating. In addition, tourism and agribusiness are two sectors with great potential to generate jobs, but it is necessary to analyze them and establish a roadmap to make them grow well.

Galindo said that people who lost their jobs during the pandemic and had to seek sustenance through informality have stopped contributing to the payment of taxes and that affects the State. However, there are entrepreneurs who need government support and this interaction creates a virtuous circle with which entrepreneurs contribute to the State and the State can continue to invest in society.

Subsidies review
In addition, subsidies must be reviewed, how far they will go, and how long they will continue to be delivered because that money can be used in another way with an added value that generates support for entrepreneurs.

Regarding the law that creates ” tax incentives ” for the tourism sector, it only benefits four economic groups. What is needed is to encourage supply. What they propose is a law that covers all points and has a good tool that helps develop the entire tourism sector. There have been initiatives that have been lacking execution.

She said that it is necessary to execute projects that are fast-acting and can immediately generate jobs.