After four months of confinement as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, where 70% of commerce has been affected and where there is a probability that 30% of businesses in this sector will not reopen their doors, Consecomercio proposes to start Starting Monday, July 27, a process of progressive and controlled de-escalation in all sectors of production.
The information was released by the organisation's president, Felipe Capozzolo, at a virtual press conference, in which he was accompanied by Alejandro Vivas, president of Pro-Franchises and by the Executive Director of the union body, Josefina Salvatierra.
He recalled that during 2019 there was talk of a 15% fiscal deficit, a drop in consumption by the end of that year of 28% and a drop in GDP of 29.6%. He points out that if it caused alarm last year, the drop in consumption of 28%, for this year what is being projected for the end of the year is a drop in consumption of 76%, warning that in this situation all sectors of the country should be activated based on the recovery of internal consumption, affirming that the National Executive must also be activated so that consumption conditions can be recovered, which ultimately translate into well-being for the people, pointing out that we must all work together and united in pursuit of that objective , because a fall of these magnitudes is going to translate into a bewilderment, uneasiness and terrible annoyance for the Venezuelan population that is facing the harsh reality of a subsistence that is becoming more difficult every day.
It reveals that the drop in capital formation that is projected for this year, under current circumstances, is 97%, indicating that this in practical terms, in which there is no capital to invest, so the jobs that are in these moments are in danger and it is clear that there will be no new sources of employment in a country where there is no investment capacity.
"It is there where we have to ask ourselves the problem and the difference, between the current situation of those of us who are experiencing the problem and the solution we are looking for in the future. That bridge is work and national consultation, in order to obtain the necessary capital that It must enter Venezuela through three fundamental routes: first, through humanitarian aid; second, through loans to international financing and the third is direct investment in infrastructure projects; This is not going to be possible, and we have been pointing this out for a long time, and it is time that some type of response could occur, not only in favor of the trade sector, but also for the common citizen, that a type of cooperative response could occur between the factors national politicians that could allow Venezuela to go out to regularize its international situation and be able to obtain these financing, to obtain these investments and these aids ”, he assures.
He recalled that the GDP of Venezuela in 2013 exceeded 340,000 million dollars, while the GDP that is being projected for the end of 2020, the GDP may barely be, barely reaching about US $ 50,000 million, a truly fall resounding that represents two thirds of our economy have disappeared, which shows that the sources of employment and subsistence of most of the Venezuelan family have also been lost, adding that not in vain between 80% and 90% Venezuelans are experiencing difficulties in being able to support our families, and the sources of employment, the productive sources, do not escape this population profile, that is to say that between 80% and 90% of the businesses, of the industrial transformation companies and even agricultural activity, is facing real difficulties, so there is an urgent need to enter into a process of national agreement, of understanding, which allows us to m reach a zero point, find a turning point and set out on the road to recovery.
Definitive opening of the economy
The President of Consecomercio points out that given all the evidence that COVID-19 will persist over time, it makes no sense that companies that can work safely and comply with all biosafety and protection protocols continue to remain in confinement, indicating that they are formulating a proposal to the country, which they hope will begin to be discussed and frankly spoken throughout society, making the invitation to the Executive.
"Therefore we propose to the Nation that as of Monday the 27th we can enter into a process of controlled de-escalation, agreed with all sectors, supervised by the authorities, in which the object of supervision is compliance with biosafety measures, but that we are allowed to work, that we are allowed to save our jobs and find the means of subsistence that we need, "says Capozzollo.
He warns that if the situation of COVID-19 is going to extend over time, then as soon as possible we must return to work, warning that Consecomercio is at the hand of all Venezuelans to provide technical support, aid to Venezuelan society in this sense.
