In the series of portfolio economic conversations with the characters that have put their name to aspire to the presidency of the Republic, this time the turn is for the journalist Vicky Dávila, who has been touring for several months The country to share their proposals to “get Colombia forward” and listen to people.
For Dávila, it is urgent to rebuild confidence between the public and private sector, repair the relations between the branches of public power, generate a new tax collection strategy, adjust the expense to economic reality and prepare to receive a foolish nation and with important social needs.
Read too: These are the questions that the popular consultation will have
How do you see the economy today?
I believe that the Colombian economy is currently going through a decline process and shows very worrying symptoms that, in my opinion, would not resist continuity in this same direction after August 7, 2026. One of the factors that worries me the most is trust. This has been completely dynamited, and that causes huge damage to the country and its economic future.
Growth is mediocre. A country like Colombia, with all its potential, growing at 1.7%, is far from what they should. That level of growth does not predict a good panorama. Beyond that, an economy managed from an ideologized vision is not responsible either. No matter what current a government is, the economy is figures, they are realities.

Vicky Dávila, presidency aspiring.
Photo – CEET / MILTÓN DÍAZ
Have things been good?
It cannot be that in 31 months of government we have already had four Ministers of Finance. That shows a very weak economic management. To this are added facts such as the president’s responses through trills, including his conflict with the United States, which generates an additional problem.
And I could follow: the deficit, the debt, the behavior of foreign direct investment – which also had a very bad indicator last year. If one analyzes the set of factors, he realizes that political management is doing a lot of harm to the Colombian economy. We cannot continue with an economy under those conditions. Responsible management is needed, to listen and respect the business sector. Witting the oil industry was also a very serious mistake.
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What has talked to people and entrepreneurs?
In the citizen on foot, in the small entrepreneur, in the MSMEs, there is a deep concern, a great uncertainty about the future of the country. People ask for solutions. And what solutions looking for people? Housing, health, education, entrepreneurship opportunities. The health system, for example, is one of the greatest concerns and people are tired of being lied to, unfulfilled promises.
As for small entrepreneurs, the panorama is also gloomy. Many fear the worst, that your company breaks. And it is that every entrepreneur dreams of growing, generating employment, having its own headquarters, climbing. But for that, clear rules, state support are required. Many of them are not asking them to give them anything. What they ask for is training, training, guidance to know how to move, what steps to take. They request soft credits, not to depend on a political project, but to build something of their own.

Colombian economy
Istock
Would entrepreneurs help recovery?
Entrepreneurs have put on the shirt in this government. They have done their part. Companies are suffocated, formal workers as well. They have fulfilled their obligations, pay their taxes, but it seems that all that effort is lost in a bottomless barrel. Money is distributed without control, as if everything were a permanent campaign.
I am convinced that Colombia will not be able to get ahead without a solid private company. If after August 7, 2026 we have a government with another course, businessmen will be ready to act. I know they are willing to work with the new government, to generate employment, to invest, to bet on the country. In fact, those who invest in Colombia today are true heroes, because they do it in the midst of an atmosphere of distrust.
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Have entrepreneurs had it difficult?
This government has been hostile with the productive sector. Change the rules of the game constantly, pursue the entrepreneur, threatens it, points out. But a new government, in another direction, must commit to work with the private sector to make it more prosperous. And one of its fundamental objectives has to be tax reduction.
Companies need that relief to bloom, create more and better employment. Colombians don’t want them to give them anything. I don’t like the concept of a Zángano state. Who really needs it – as an abandoned older adult – must receive decent support, of course.

Economic growth
Courtesy – API
What to do in fiscal matters?
The first thing is to understand that, today, many are making cheerful accounts, because the wear and tear of the economy from here to August 7, 2026 could be much greater than we are seeing. And that occurs at the same time that we face an increasingly serious security crisis, both in the territories and in the cities.
I sincerely believe that they are going to steal to the toilets if they can. But beyond that, the important thing is to leave. Because we are the majority of Colombians, we do not agree with this destructive political project. Let us leave the pot scraped if they want, but leave. What the country needs is a change, and that change begins with its exit from power. We will touch us start from scratch on many fronts.
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More taxes?
At the time a new government arrives and changes direction, confidence will begin to recover. Because trust is born from the right messages, and I am convinced that, with those messages, correct decisions will begin to be made: the expense will be adjusted, the tax issue will be addressed in a serious way.
We, together with the economic team, are working on a proposal called 10-10-10, which seeks to simplify the Colombian tax system. We cannot continue with the current model, after two tax reforms promoted by this government. No more load is endured.
What the Petro government Ministry of Finance is thinking of anticipating withholdings is definitely very dangerous because this government is spending the money in the campaign for 2026 to stay, whether through an heir, in power. Petro is turning Colombia’s economy into a time bomb and at any time it will explode.