President Piñera highlights Chile’s economic recovery since the pandemic: “This is how Chile moves forward, with unity, hard work, and commitment”

The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, highlighted this Tuesday the strong growth of the Chilean economy, thanks to actions taken by the Government such as its public works investment plans, promotion of private development and SMEs, and job creation programs. 

“The country is continuing to create jobs and grow strongly,” the President stated following a tour he took through the works at the Américo Vespucio Oriente Highway. He was accompanied by Economy Minister Lucas Palacios, Labor Minister Patricio Melero, Transport Minister Gloria Hutt, and Public Works Undersecretary Cristóbal Leturia. 

In August 2020, the President announced the implementation of the Plan Paso a Paso Chile se Recupera (Chile Recovers Step-by-Step Plan), with US$34 billion in public investment for the 2020-2022 period to stimulate employment through works like highways, bridges, roads, housing, parks, and irrigation and drinking water infrastructure. 

The Government has also promoted programs such as loans to help small- and medium-sized enterprises to stay afloat and recover, and subsidies to protect existing jobs and create new ones. These measures have already made it possible to recover 1.6 million jobs. 

The President highlighted that the Chilean economy will grow by around 8% in the first quarter after growing by 12% in 2021, the largest expansion in its history, creating new jobs and opportunities. 

“Chile is showing that, despite all the hard knocks and adversity that we’ve had to face, we don’t surrender, we don’t give up, we don’t let our spirit break; we just strive to get back up on our feet and walk forward,” the President said. He was speaking during his visit to works for the Américo Vespucio Oriente Highway, a project that has generated more than 3,500 jobs. 

The project includes over US$1 billion in investment, is 95% complete, and will have three 3.5m-wide lanes in each direction. The speed limit will be 100km/h and 80km/h in tunnels and on service roads. 

The mega-work will allow a highly saturated area of Santiago to be decongested, reducing travel times from 40 minutes to just 10. This will also contribute to reducing levels of pollution and fuel consumption. 

“The best development policy is a one of comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable growth. The best social policy is one that creates a lot of good jobs, with good salaries and good growth opportunities for workers (…) This is how Chile moves forward, with unity, hard work, and commitment,” the President concluded.