The recovery of jobs in Panama must be a common obsession says  the president of  Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture Jose Ramón Icza  in the Chamber’s weekly bulletin.

Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs need to be able to start their operations after 18 months of mobility restrictions and activities closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "You have to act as soon as possible," he said.

He recalled that the restrictions have finally been almost completely eliminated, "which will allow the reconstruction of the business fabric and the reactivation of its main asset: human resources.".

However, this process will be accelerated "as long as" access to the necessary supports is available. "Hence, the Chamber of firmly supports the immediate implementation of the multi-sector guarantee program agreed upon at the work table between the business sector and the Government."

The union requested the immediate implementation of the joint venture program approved in May by the Executive Branch for the Panamanian tourism sector.

He recalled that at the beginning of the pandemic when the restriction measures were implemented, the Government of President Laurentino Cortizo made available to the business sector, especially small and medium-sized companies, funds provided by different multilaterals.

"However, in all this time their use has been limited, given that the conditions established to access them do not take into account the financial situation of the companies in an environment of prolonged closure," emphasized Icaza.

In a tour that the Chamber has made throughout the country, it has met with entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized companies, who have confirmed the difficulties they have in accessing these credits, revealed Icaza.

He added that everyone agrees that the demands to obtain these loans obviate the current reality caused by the pandemic.

"Given this situation, it is necessary to create a sense of urgency, these credits must be implemented immediately, taking into account the reality described above," he said.

T