President Bachelet appoints Productivity Commission: “We know how to revive the economy while protecting people’s wellbeing and rights”
President Michelle Bachelet has appointed a Productivity Commission as part of the Government’s Productivity, Innovation and Growth Agenda. Today she announced the names of those who will be members of this independent, permanent consultative body that will advise the Government on matters relating to productivity and economic growth.
This group of experts will carry out analyses and make recommendations relating to the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and reforms to directly stimulate productivity in Chile. The commission may also prepare studies, publish data and information and make proposals in areas they identify as priorities.
President Bachelet explained that “today we are taking another step forward in terms of our commitment to increasing productivity in Chile. We know, and there is consensus among various economic actors, that this is not only a matter of strategic importance, there is also no time to lose. Now is the time to shift productivity up a gear if we want to aim for the high, sustained growth that will drive the social, political and human development that Chile needs.”
“Our growth estimates have been lowered and obviously this is not something we are pleased about”, the President confirmed. “Nevertheless, we have the capacity and the sense of responsibility to adapt to this situation and deal with it appropriately. We are a credible country with a well-defined structural fiscal system. Furthermore, as we proved during my previous Government, we know how to revive the economy while protecting the wellbeing and rights of people. This is one of our key strengths and we should value it, because it means we are better placed to face hard times than many other countries.”
Referring to the commission’s role, President Bachelet emphasized that “our aim, as a Government and a nation, is to advance with conviction, responsibility and determination and work diligently to ensure that our development is founded on innovation, cohesion and equality.”
Similarly, the President explained that “in a context like ours, the public policies we implement and the way we implement them make the difference in terms of reviving and stimulating economic growth. And as regards the discussions that must take place to decide the most suitable measures for ensuring progress, we guarantee there will be instances of dialogue to generate shared perspectives and public trust.”
The Commission members announced today are: Joseph Ramos (chairman); Carlos Álvarez; Andrea Butelman; Rossana Costa; Raphael Bergoeing; Fernando Carmona; Rafael Guilisasti; Soledad Ovando; Claudio Soto and Juan Cristóbal Marshall.