Alberto Sborovsky, president of the Paraguayan Chamber of Supermarkets (Capasu), pointed out that the informal economy currently represents half of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This, during a meeting with legislators within the framework of the Bicameral Investigation Commission (CBI).
“There are many recipes and few actions. We need institutions to be strengthened. One battle is when the product enters the country, and the other is their commercialization”, he explained.
He pointed out that large companies benefit from this. However, he did not want to specify names.
“I am not referring to representatives and partners of Capasu. Contraband products are not traded inside the chamber,” she stated.
Finally, he questioned that the State institutions are being overwhelmed by this situation.
“The repression is not being carried out well and they are overwhelmed. We had actively participated in the tables. Contraband not only comes from Argentina but also from Brazil. I believe that the controls of the Navy and the Inter-institutional Unit for the Fight against Smuggling (UIC) are insufficient”, he concluded.
DUMOT
Iván Dumot, president of the Center for Importers of Paraguay, pointed out that 47% of imports are contraband products.
“The size of contraband is equal to the size of the formal economy. There are a number of companies that had to close or reduce their production. This affects the national industry and supermarkets,” she commented.
Regarding the government’s struggle, he pointed out that at the time they worked together and made the corresponding complaints.
