He affirmed that educational transformation and access to decent housing are the great challenges of the Government. In addition, he considered that a powerful and strong region is required, so it is necessary to open up to the world. In his talk with the moderator of the event, Ismael Cala, President Luis Lacalle Pou gave an account of the last year of management and highlighted the “frank economic recovery” achieved by Uruguay after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He recalled that at the beginning of the current administration the country’s fiscal deficit was 5% and projected that it will end at 3.1% at the end of the period. He added that 50,000 jobs were created and unemployment fell from 10.1% to about 8%. In addition, the president pointed out that the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) generates social assistance tools aimed at the most vulnerable population. In this sense, he listed the possibility of receiving an allowance without stopping working, the record of people released from detention centers with work, the “solidarity days” and the Accesses program.
Uruguay is growing, it is a great producer of raw materials and attractive in information and communication technologies (ICT), we must work on that aspect, said the president. He also stressed that laws and contracts are followed in our country and the separation of powers is practiced. Asked about the current situation in Mercosur, he said that it is necessary to have a powerful and strong region. For that reason, he considered that Mercosur should be opened to the world.
Uruguay is following this path and for this it will sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, present the letter of adhesion to the Trans-Pacific Agreement before the end of the year and negotiate a treaty with Turkey, he explained. He added that the great challenge for the Government is, on the one hand, to carry out an educational transformation, an action that he described as “a pillar” to change the way of solving new problems. On the other hand, there is the challenge of housing, for which the Executive ordered an investment so that people do not live in unworthy conditions, he pointed out.
3.1% growth this year
Lacalle Pou was asked about what is better and what Uruguay is not doing so well compared to a year ago. “Objectively, I try not to compare myself with the rest of the world, because I care how my country is doing, with all due respect to the rest,” he began. “We are in a frank economic recovery, so much so that last year we anticipated a certain growth in the product and we grew more. For this year, we once again promised to lower the deficit, we took it to around 5%, it will end at 3.1% this year », he indicated. “Last year 50,000 jobs were created. We are with the illusion, you who give work put your batteries so we fulfill, of 40,000 jobs », he expressed.
Feeding
On the other hand, he mentioned the issue of food, “which is currently under discussion in our country, has unfortunately come down to a political discussion” which from his point of view is “unnecessary.” “In addition to unfair, because we are talking about people who need the State to give them a plate of food, and with that you cannot do politics. Either you take the plate of food, or you don’t do politics », he said.
Lacalle Pou inaugurated the Trump Tower
Earlier, on the afternoon of this Friday the 7th, Lacalle Pou participated, in Punta del Este, in the inauguration of the Trump Tower, a residential building located at stop 9 of Brava beach. There, he was accompanied by the Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic, Álvaro Delgado; the Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera; the undersecretary of that portfolio, Remo Monzeglio; the mayor of Maldonado, Enrique Antía, and the mayor of Punta del Este, Javier Carballal. With 26 floors and 160 units, the Trump Tower is a residential project that required an investment of more than 100 million dollars and is estimated to generate more than 100 jobs.
