The Ministers of Finance, Ricardo Bonilla, and of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Germán Umaña, together with representatives of the Colombian private business sector was saved yesterday in the GSB auditorium of the Universidad del Rosario in the forum ‘Reindustrialization policy, change of direction or long-term strategy?’, a space for reflection on the government’s reindustrialization and foreign trade policies.
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in its buds, both Bonilla and Umaña reviewed what they had traveled through Colombia in business and industrial mattersmaking clear the problems and opportunities that the country has on this front.
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Bonilla said, for example, that the country was deindustrialized, since it went from having an industry with an impact of 24 percent on the Gross Domestic Product, which today is half. For his part, Umaña corresponds to the enormous potential that the country has to integrate globally; one that has lost over time, in part, due to the lack of real integration between its territories.
Therefore, both pointed out the importance of applying the reindustrialization policy of the current Government, in which factors such as the development of agro-industry, the internationalization of territories and, above all, education for work and technological and scientific development.
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A bet that the former Minister of Finance and Commerce, and rector of the EIA University, José Manuel Restrepo, consider that it could be higher, since, according to him, very few references were made about the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology.
you have to make a big bet on services. In addition, it must be recognized that in the end many Reindustrialization policies do not even go through State policy”.@jrestrp pic.twitter.com/ZFkJf9IsIY
– EIA University (@EIA University) July 12, 2023
Despite the above, Restrepo appreciated that the Government pays attention to the productive sector, since this is the base of the economy. besides, highlight other aspects such as the decision not to implement protectionist measures, adherence to legal certainty and an issue that has generated controversy, joint work with the business sector.
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For Imelda Restrepo, vice president of Competitiveness and Development of Andi, it is necessary to establish an action plan between the public and private sectors, because, although there have been spaces for relations and conversation commissions, they want to execute and see the results. As she explains, Some recommendations that have been made from the business sector to the Government have not been taken into account.
“It is necessary to move from grand approaches and focus on concrete policies that allow us to move forward. There it is important to converge, the government and the productive sector, so that progress is made on the same path and we can start executing and seeing results”, highlighted Imelda… pic.twitter.com/I8K30W8LwI
—ANDI (@ANDI_Colombia) July 12, 2023
Faced with these statements, the Vice Minister of Development of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Soraya Caro Vargas, emphasizes that the recommendations are listened to and integrated and pointed out that what happens is that the private sector “does not make the decrees or make the policies. It is a matter of consensus, but prioritizing the national interest, not a sector, a company or particular interests”.
The vice minister points out that, for this reason, there are moments in which the Government must decide for the national interest, but the dialogue with the private sector is permanent. Furthermore, she explains that, Compared to other proposals from previous governments, this one seeks precisely inclusion to achieve transformation.
After these interventions, the event culminated with requests from representatives of the private sector to the Government, among which stands out take advantage of new markets, increase dialogue and continue to recognize the importance of the private sector in order to avoid stigmatization towards entrepreneurs.
JUAN DAVID CANO LOPERA
SCHOOL OF MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM EL TIEMPO
ECONOMY WRITING
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