Lima Chamber of Commerce asks Fujimori to combat state inefficiency and corruption

The Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) has urged the incoming government of President-elect Keiko Fujimori to implement five priority reforms aimed at reducing state intervention and increasing efficiency. The business guild believes these measures are crucial for restoring international confidence and economic dynamism to Peru.

During a meeting with journalists, the CCL outlined its agenda, which includes closing infrastructure gaps in transport, energy, water, and digital connectivity. They also advocate for simplifying and unblocking projects by reducing bureaucratic procedures and deadlines, citing current overregulation. Furthermore, the chamber emphasized the need to guarantee citizen security, economic stability, fiscal discipline, and respect for contracts.

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State inefficiency and corruption have prevented the country from taking advantage of the favorable international context of high mineral prices. The country is barely growing at 3%, when we should be growing at double that.

CCL President Raúl Barrios Fernández-Concha stated that state inefficiency and corruption have prevented Peru from capitalizing on the favorable international context of high mineral prices. "The country is barely growing at 3%, when we should be growing at double that," he emphasized. Barrios stressed the importance of corrective measures to steer the country toward better economic results.

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We have not completed the proposed recovery and prevention works. It has not been due to a lack of money, but because the ministers have not granted the financing to conclude them. This is an issue we cannot overlook and we have asked the Ombudsman's Office to investigate all responsible ministers since 2017.

The chamber also highlighted the need to boost productivity and formalization through improved education, technical training, quality healthcare, and technological adoption. They also called for settling public administration debts with suppliers and contractors. Barrios criticized the current government's recent supplementary credit approval, noting it would be used for current spending while delaying crucial preventive works for the El Niño phenomenon, which causes torrential rains and floods along the coast.

Barrios added that the lack of progress on recovery and prevention projects is not due to a lack of funds but to ministers failing to allocate financing. He called for an investigation into responsible ministers since 2017. The CCL also stressed the importance of guaranteeing legal certainty, stating, "Contracts must be fulfilled. We entrepreneurs do not ask for privileges, we ask for clear rules and that they be followed."

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Contracts must be fulfilled. We entrepreneurs do not ask for privileges, we ask for clear rules and that they be followed.