Hostile climate limits business growth and confidence

The Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT) expressed concern over what it considers to be official rhetoric that stigmatizes the country’s leading businesspeople, in a context of growing tensions between the private sector and the government. The statement, issued this week, warned of the effects that this type of narrative could have on investment, employment, and economic stability in Honduras.

The statement comes amid a political environment marked by recurring confrontations between economic actors and the ruling party over the role of private enterprise in national development and its relationship with the fiscal and social policies promoted by the government.

Trade groups criticize discriminatory discourse

In a public declaration, the CCIT voiced its opposition to the allegations concerning what it refers to as “centralized private business,” which, as per the group, are fostering an atmosphere of suspicion that might jeopardize the stability of countless positions.

Rafael Medina, the Executive Director of CCIT, expressed that major companies should not be blamed for the nation’s structural issues. “Entrepreneurs are not responsible for the nation’s underdevelopment. In fact, they are the individuals who support thousands of jobs and possibilities for families in Honduras,” he stated.

Medina affirmed that the private sector plays a key role in tax collection, boosting exports, and promoting social responsibility programs in areas such as food and energy. From his perspective, attacking the productive sector constitutes a risk to economic stability.

Call for a common agenda of solutions

Besides denying the allegations, the CCIT called on the authorities to resolve the conflict and create opportunities for discussions centered on technical resolutions to the fiscal, economic, and societal issues the nation is encountering.

“The nation requires connections, not divisions,” stated the business entity, highlighting the necessity of an all-encompassing dialogue that facilitates advancement towards a model of sustainable development and enhanced social unity.

The declaration by the CCIT reflects comparable views recently shared by other trade groups, international bodies, and civil community members. They have voiced worries about what is perceived as an increasing societal rift encouraged by certain sectors within the political establishment.

Conflicts among industries and obstacles for institutions

The stance of the CCIT signifies a pivotal moment in the dynamics between organized commerce and the government, especially as the nation contends with structural difficulties like recovering the economy after the pandemic, combating poverty, and strengthening the rule of law.

The declarations of the business group underscore the necessity of reinstating institutional processes for dialogue and negotiation within a political environment marked by division and suspicion. Experts suggest that the main challenge will be maintaining lines of communication open, ensuring that ideological disparities do not hinder achieving consensus on essential matters for the nation’s progress.