The Chamber of Commerce highlights the importance of a responsible and well-designed General State Budget that allows overcoming current challenges and lays the groundwork for a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future. In this regard, they insist that resources must be allocated to the people, not to greed or abuse.
Juan Arias, president of the Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes that the state budget should be a tool to drive social progress and not for political benefit. He highlights the need to recover technical rigor and strategic planning to ensure an efficient and transparent investment of every dollar of public funds.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance has resumed a leadership role in preparing the General State Budget, which is seen as a positive step by the business community. It is noted that the country is facing a serious income and financial stability crisis due to years of harmful practices that have turned the budget into a tool for political reward rather than development.
The urgency of correcting these damaging practices is underscored, which requires courage and firmness. Despite economic challenges, the commitment to seriousness and technical criteria in the current budgetary exercise is considered encouraging. It emphasizes the need for a Fiscal Responsibility Law that reflects the country's seriousness on an international level.
It is criticized that the politicization of the budget has led to the waste of billions of dollars without significant improvements in public services. It is mentioned that Panama's international image as a not serious country has been affected by these practices. Despite the revenues generated by the expansion of the Panama Canal, there is a warning about the need to correct these budgetary deficiencies.
In summary, the Chamber of Commerce highlights the importance of using the General State Budget as a tool to promote social progress transparently and efficiently, avoiding abuse and partisan greed.
