#CADEEjecutivos: What is the task of the private sector in a changing society?

The world is changing. Social processes – protests, changes in electoral preferences or the birth of conflicts within societies – have been brewing throughout the Americas. The 2019 mobilizations in Ecuador or Chile are clear examples. Citizens’ demands on both the authorities and the private sector are on the rise. It is essential that both the authorities and the business community adapt to these new social changes.

Along these lines, the session “Facing the challenges of the country in democracy” of the 59th edition of CADE Executives, a virtual forum organized by IPAE Business Association, sought to share international lessons to face the challenges of today’s democratic societies. For this, the exhibition was in charge of Mae Montaño (Ecuador), political and social activist and former National Assemblyman, and Claudio Orrego (Chile), Governor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. Gonzalo Zegarra, Director of companies, Director of Vistage Peru and columnist for the newspaper El Comercio was the leader of the dialogue.

For Mae Montaño, in the current socio-political context, it is urgent that social policies play a greater role, and that work should be done so that people have economic autonomy. Along these lines, he regretted that the political parties and governments linked to the left in the region – despite having a progressive discourse or related to social development – do not usually give the population the tools to achieve this autonomy.

For this reason, he stressed that it is essential that governments and the private sector understand that economic policies and social policies must work at the same level and communicate with each other, since both feed into each other. However, this must be done responsibly and not with a populist or clientelist goal.

“In these times, people expect more from their private sector and their business leaders, who have to nurture a more social vision. Business leaders know how to deal with crises, achieve economic autonomy and create alliances. Recognize the popular strength of the different sectors, create alliances with them, generate concrete actions that have an impact on the quality of life of the people, ”said Montaño.

He added that, working hand in hand, the private sector and the authorities can solve a broad agenda for the country: education and digital inclusion; financial education and inclusion; and access to credit. “All that the people expect. They will be surprised by the results when these alliances with the popular sectors are finally made, uniting the public, the private and the popular ”, concluded the activist.

For his part, Claudio Orrego said that it is essential that the private sector stop “living in its bubble at the end of the month or the end of the quarter. It has to get into contemporary debates, such as gender equality, the environment or the political redesign of the country. ” In this way, he considered the current crisis that we face as an opportunity to transform society and the way we do business.

He added that it is important that the private sector and citizens work hand in hand with the authorities and political parties. “There is no development without political parties that channel the concerns of the citizens. We have to rethink our democratic institutions. We have to do it ourselves or someone is going to force us to do it, ”Orrego warned.

The proposals coincide with what was proposed by the Peru Representative Democracy Route, a document prepared by the IPAE Business Association. It is recommended, like Orrego, to promote the consolidation of Political Parties, since without solid political organizations it is impossible to strengthen democracy and governance of the country. Without a citizenry committed to the country and a private sector that understands its work with the development of Peru, it will be impossible to build the nation we all dream of.

Finally, from IPAE Business Association with the important messages provided in this session ratifies its commitment to continue mobilizing and enhancing the impact of the leaders of the private sector, public sector, academia and civil society; convening, reflecting, proposing and executing initiatives for the development of the market economy, institutions, business and education to achieve a developed Peru.

GIVEN:

CADE Executives 2021 has been organized by IPAE Business Association for 59 years. The event takes place virtually for the second time, from November 16 and will culminate on the 18th of this month. This Wednesday 17 will be present Pedro Francke, Minister of Economy and Finance; Mirtha Vásquez, President of the Council of Ministers; Dane Smith (United States), CEO of FSG; Sergio Fajardo (Colombia), Aspiring to the presidency of the Republic of Colombia, Former Mayor of Medellín and Former Governor of Antioquia; Anne Applebaum (USA), Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, journalist and geopolitical commentator; Sergio Fajardo (Colombia), Aspiring to the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia, Former Mayor of Medellín and Former Governor of Antioquia, among other national speakers.

For more information about the event, enter here: https://www.ipae.pe/cade-ejecutivos-2021/