The president of the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC), Ricardo Mewes, addressed issues such as the image of entrepreneurs among citizens, tax reform, pensions and the importance of growth.
In December, Mewes replaced agricultural entrepreneur Juan Sutil. It comes from the branch of the National Chamber of Commerce (CNC) and is dedicated to customs trade.
Asked if there was any self-criticism about the participation of the business community in the public debate in recent years, Mewes said he was very self-critical by definition, and highlighted the changes in the National Chamber of Commerce and the CPC itself, where for the first time there will be vice president, in charge of the economist Susana Jiménez, former Minister of Energy of Sebastián Piñera and counselor of Sofofa.
“Many times we ourselves are guilty of not publicizing the work and what we do based on the community. We have to correct that, we have to link ourselves much more with the communities. We have a first female vice president and that change in the CPC is also important,” he said, in conversation with the newspaper La Tercera.
“We also have to take charge quickly when there are problems. We have been moving forward and we have removed some stigmas from within, by the way, for example, of criminals who sell stolen wood in the south or cases in which we have been very critical such as La Polar.”
Constitutional debate
Asked about the direct participation of the business community in the new constituent process, where his predecessor Sutil is even a candidate for constitutional councilor for National Renewal for the O’Higgins region, he explained that “we cannot say that for some things we are entrepreneurs and for others, people.”
“An entrepreneur is a person who lives in the country and is also a citizen. We have an opinion and there is no reason not to express them. For example, I believe that our political system should not be so atomized. It does us good for people to know what our opinion is,” he said.
He added:
“Someone could consider it as a risk that economic power intervenes, but let’s not forget that we are people who live in Chile and who are interested in the future of our country. That is the substantial element that pushes us to participate in the process.”
In that sense, asked if a much more participatory business community will be seen in the public and political situation from now on, he said that “we have never been oblivious to that. We have probably been less exposed, but we have always participated in politics and public development.”
Image of entrepreneurship
Mewes was also asked about the deterioration of the image of entrepreneurs in the citizenry.
“There are issues to be done. It is important to be consistent with what is thought, said and done, because citizens and workers notice that. Entrepreneurs must be more on the ground, we are not guaton investors in a computer watching how the stock market rises or falls, “he said.
“I trained in the port of Valparaiso and was going to wait for the containers at 3 or 4 in the morning when the loads of the ships were going to load them on top of the truck. Many of the entrepreneurs are and have been working hand in hand with the workers of their company and with the communities. That closeness and empathy is what we should all have, in addition to always acting attached to ethical principles, with transparency and total respect for people, as the vast majority of entrepreneurs do.”
The leader added that for a good image of entrepreneurship it is also important to better know what they do, “because many times citizens do not know much of the good things companies do in social issues, education, environment, support for workers, supplier development, etc.”
Tax and pension reforms
Mewes was also asked if there will be tax reform this year.
“Yes, because you have to clear issues. The minister has proposed a global view of how to move forward in terms of taxes and I think that is the way to do it. When you have the complete picture of what the tax burden of companies is going to be, you take the thorns out of the concept behind it and you can say: this is the framework of the tax process as a whole, “he responded.
“I hope that all this goes ahead so that it gives certainties to companies and invested it.n. We also spoke with Finance Minister Marcel that there are mechanisms for investment in reform and also for controlling spending, which is very important with regard to reforms to the State. You need a state that provides services to people and is more efficient.”
However, he admitted that the pension reform is more complex, despite which “we are invited again to sit down at the table and talk again.”
“We are very interested in reforming the pension system. This is the third proposal, people do not give for more. It is not possible for people to use part of their pension to pay for medical expenses or medicines. The pension has to be to enjoy the post-work life. One issue is how we improve access to health and remedies for those people who spend a significant percentage of their pension income. Ethically and morally we have to push through a pension reform very soon, people require it,” he said.
Growth
Finally, Mewes also expressed concern about the low growth of the economy over the past decade and signs of stagnant investment.
“If there is no growth or development, companies have less opportunity to grow. Growth and investment generate opportunities for many people who were left without work after the pandemic and who are facing technological transformation in the market. The issue is how we get out of this stagnation that we are experiencing by being careful with the environment, “he analyzed.
“Today the conditions are not given to invest quietly, there are no incentives to invest. Hopefully after the new constituent process and the tax reform those variables will be cleared.”
On this issue, for Mewes government has two souls. “There is one that is interested in growth and that is the most central left, where the Socialist Party is. They do have a vocation for growth. But there’s another soul that doesn’t have it on the radar and doesn’t focus on growth.”
“President Boric has been understanding this. I have seen over the last year that there is increased interest in improving growth. Anyway, there is a tug-of-war between the two souls of the government over this issue. President Boric has understood how important economic growth is and so have ministers. Maybe at first I wasn’t so sure. The September vote (for the new Constitution) generated a change in politics and dynamics. The President has taken care to give signals of the importance of public-private work and the importance of entrepreneurship to advance the needs of people.”
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