Colombia’s National Merchant’s Federation (Fenalco) convened on Wednesday and endorsed President Juan Manuel Santos while calling for sectors to work together.
Guillermo Botero, President of Fenalco, reaffirmed the federation’s support of President Santos during a conference in Colombia’s northern coastal city, Santa Marta.
“We cannot allow the national situation stuck in an unusual environment begin to deteriorate the business climate and investor confidence,” said Botero.
The merchant leader asserted that the Fenalco’s support of the government is much needed in order to achieve success and progress in light of recent country-wide strikes that have been ongoing since August 19.
MORE: Who in Colombia is striking against the government and why?
“We are a government with democratic spirit. We have respected the social protests, we have addressed the claims and concerns, and we are doing our part in order to find and put into practice solutions that we agree on,” said President Santos to a full room of tradesmen.
On September 12, the government will be holding the grand National Pact for Agricultural and Rural Development with the intention of gathering political leaders together with agricultural representatives as well as other leaders of trade and industry to discuss issues related to the current strikes.
MORE: Colombia govt will create ‘grand national pact’ to fix agricultural sector
Currently none of 14 rural protester associations that make up the Agricultural Dignity Movement, a leading coalition for the strikers and protesters, will be in attendance because they claim that, “[While the government] has solved small agricultural problems, none of the evils that have plagued us have been resolved, and on the contrary, they will worsen in the short term [unless more resources are allocated to the areas affected].”
The Fenalco’s Santa Marta conference will span until Friday of this week and has already gathered several merchants and federation members from across Colombia.
Sources
- Comerciantes brindan total apoyo al presidente Santos (El Espectador)
- Santos defiende ‘talante democrático’ de su Gobierno durante huelgas (Cable Noticias)