CCIAP appoints a new board of directors for the period 2023-2024

Adolfo Fábrega García de Paredes, assumed the duties of President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) and the Board of Directors for 2023-2024.

Fábrega was sworn in by outgoing President Marcela Galindo De Obarrio in a ceremony attended by the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo; and his wife Yazmín Colón de Cortizo, First Lady of the Republic; Monique de Saint Malo, Treasurer of the Board of Directors 2022-2023.

Then the Board of Directors for the period 2023-2024. the new president of CCIAP was sworn in in the presence of new and outgoing directors, the Council of former presidents, trade union advisers, representatives of member companies, state bodies and directors. other business associations, among others.

After his inauguration as president of the CCIAP, Fábrega expressed “presenting before you today as president number 72 of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama is a source of pride for me and my family, especially at a time that allowed us to review the path traveled.”

Part of his work plan to be carried out during his year in office will focus on more work on the Quality of Life Observatory, Panama Tell Me!, Country Agenda 2024-2029, Disability, Old Age and Death (IVM) program of the Social Security Fund (CSS) ), public finances, consumption and debt; as well as education.

About this observatory, he pointed out that, through Panama, tell me! It will try to present statistical data, as well as perception surveys that guide Panamanians about the reality of the main life indicators, so that they can make informed decisions based on them; as well as to demand from the ruler the improvement of the services provided by the state.

“Thus, during this year, I intend to work to ensure that this information reaches our fellow citizens and governments more directly; At the same time, we will strengthen the alliances with the different groups that follow us in this initiative”, specified Fábrega.

In the context of Agenda País 2024-2029, Fábrega emphasized that based on this data and the information handled, this union is dedicated every five years to the presentation of the Agenda País project, where through forums the current situation of the main sectors that require attention to the development of Panama is presented, and later recommendations for activities to be implemented in the short and medium term in the next five-year period.

The President of CCIAP pointed out that in the coming months the Chamber of Commerce will present this Country Agenda-2024-2029 program, the purpose of which is to contribute to the government’s official candidate plans and which will also be the basis for the presidential debate that the Electoral Court assigned to CCIAP to prepare April 17, 2024

He also informed that, in Agenda País, this year other actors of national life, such as academia, workers, production sectors and businessmen, to name but a few, will be invited to sign a commitment to establish a common vision with the agreed Let it be the basis on which we will act and leave a just and developing Panama to the next generation.

He emphasized that this last year of state administration and the period that follows are crucial for Panama. “The socio-economic stability of the country and its long-term sustainable development are at risk. Therefore, during this year, we will give priority to those issues that cannot wait any longer”, Fábrega added.

Regarding the issue of social security and the IVM program, the seventy-second president of CCIAP reiterated that the Social Security Fund and the Disability, Old Age and Death Fund (IVM) are no longer sufficient. For the same period next year, if we do not act, there will be no way to guarantee its sustainability.

Likewise, Fábrega stressed that he is very concerned about the growing foreign debt together with the growing liabilities of the National Government and the evident lack of funds to maintain and carry out critical works in Panama. And above all, an increase in the state budget. All this, without strategic planning and implementation that promote competitive economic growth and improve the services that the state provides to citizens.

As for public spending, the president of CCIAP indicated that this business union will continue to demand savings in public spending and that the current one focuses on investments, not on operating costs, and will also promote the Open Budget Initiative and budget automation. of the state, which eliminates discretion and promotes transparency and accountability, which can contribute to building true trust of citizens. “Until now, we have seen little of that and the result is a population that does not believe everything that surrounds it,” added the businessman.

He also emphasized that he will give priority to education and everything that CCIAP can contribute to achieve “true quality education that reaches everyone, because the future is now, and we are not prepared”.

In this sense, this renowned entrepreneur, who has more than 15 years of professional experience in the sector of information and communication technologies, including as a software and computer security developer, pointed out that the impact of the Internet and mobile devices will be miniscule compared to the changes that will will be seen in the next 48 to 72 months. Referring to artificial intelligence.