In a strategic move aimed at reinforcing its influence and operational capacity, the National Confederation of Private Business Institutions (CONFIEP)—Peru’s premier private sector representative body—has announced the appointment of Carlos García Jerí as its new General Manager. This transition comes at a pivotal moment for the Peruvian economy, as the confederation seeks to recalibrate its relationship with both the public sector and the diverse ecosystem of businesses it represents.
García Jerí, an accomplished senior executive with a deep-rooted history in institutional management, assumes this role with a mandate to bolster the vision of CONFIEP’s current president, Jorge Zapata Ríos. His appointment is widely seen as an effort to streamline the confederation’s advocacy for private investment, formal employment, and regional development across its 21 member guilds, which span ten vital sectors of the national economy.
1. Main Facts: A New Chapter for Peru’s Private Sector
The appointment of Carlos García Jerí is not merely a change in administrative personnel; it is a signal of the confederation’s intent to professionalize its internal structure to better navigate the complexities of Peru’s current socio-economic landscape. As the organization that aggregates the voices of micro, small, medium, and large enterprises, CONFIEP acts as the primary interlocutor between the private sector and the State.
García Jerí’s primary mandate includes:
- Strengthening Institutional Cohesion: Harmonizing the interests of 21 distinct guilds, ensuring that the confederation speaks with a unified, authoritative voice.
- Strategic Alignment: Working in lockstep with President Jorge Zapata Ríos to implement a roadmap focused on national economic recovery and competitiveness.
- Advocacy for Investment: Acting as a bridge to communicate the needs of the business sector to policymakers to encourage a more favorable environment for both domestic and foreign private investment.
- Regional Integration: Shifting the focus beyond the capital to ensure that the benefits of private enterprise reach the diverse regions of the country, a long-standing challenge in Peru’s decentralized yet often polarized economic structure.
2. Chronology: The Path to the C-Suite
To understand the weight of García Jerí’s appointment, one must examine his extensive trajectory within Peru’s institutional architecture. His career has been defined by a focus on "Institutional Sustainability"—a skill set that is essential for leading an organization as multifaceted as CONFIEP.
A Proven Track Record
- Early Career & Academic Foundations: An engineer by training, García Jerí balanced technical expertise with a sharp business acumen, eventually earning an MBA from CENTRUM Graduate Business School. His academic rigor is further evidenced by his tenure as a professor of International Business at the prestigious Universidad del Pacífico.
- The Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) Era: Perhaps most notably, García Jerí served as the General Manager of the Lima Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure, he was responsible for navigating the complex relationships between the private sector and various government ministries.
- The International Trade Pillar: For nearly a decade, he led the Foreign Trade Center at the CCL. During this period, he was instrumental in shaping Peru’s export strategy, facilitating international cooperation, and helping SMEs navigate the complexities of global supply chains.
- The National Society of Industries (SNI): Before joining CONFIEP, he held the position of General Manager at the SNI, where he spearheaded internal reforms focused on governance, institutional control, and high-level representation.
His career has been characterized by a trajectory of moving from specialized trade promotion into the upper echelons of national executive management.
3. Supporting Data: The Scope of CONFIEP’s Influence
CONFIEP remains the most powerful business representative organization in Peru. To understand the significance of the General Manager’s role, one must consider the breadth of the organization’s influence:
- Breadth of Representation: The organization brings together 21 major guilds, representing thousands of companies. This includes the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE), the Association of Exporters (ADEX), and the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL), among others.
- Economic Impact: The sectors represented by these guilds account for a massive percentage of Peru’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Decisions made at the CONFIEP board level often dictate the tone of national debates on tax policy, labor reform, and environmental regulation.
- Crisis Management Capabilities: As a professional with specific training in "Crisis Administration," García Jerí is arriving at a time when the Peruvian private sector faces a dual challenge: political instability and the urgent need for structural economic reforms.
4. Official Responses and Institutional Vision
The leadership at CONFIEP has framed this appointment as a strategic investment in the future of the organization. President Jorge Zapata Ríos has emphasized the importance of a "modern, agile, and representative" institution.
"The incorporation of Carlos García Jerí into the team will significantly contribute to the strengthening of our institutional articulation," stated a spokesperson for the board. "His deep knowledge of how the Peruvian state and private sectors interact will be critical in pushing forward our proposals for competitiveness and regional economic integration."
García Jerí himself has maintained a low-profile but highly professional outlook, focusing his early statements on the need for "structured dialogue." His approach is expected to be technocratic—favoring data-driven policy advocacy over populist rhetoric. By prioritizing formal employment as a metric of success, he aligns the confederation’s goals with the broader social need for poverty reduction through economic growth.
5. Implications: What This Means for the Peruvian Economy
The arrival of a veteran institutional manager like García Jerí carries several long-term implications for the nation’s business climate.
A Focus on Formalization
One of the most persistent issues in the Peruvian economy is the high rate of informality. By leveraging his experience with SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) during his time at the CCL, García Jerí is well-positioned to design and advocate for policies that make it easier for informal businesses to transition into the formal sector. This is not just an economic goal but a social imperative, as formal businesses provide the tax base necessary for public services.
Enhancing Regional Competitiveness
There has long been a disconnect between the economic growth centered in Lima and the development needs of the interior provinces. García Jerí’s mandate includes a specific focus on "regional development." This implies a shift toward advocating for infrastructure projects, regional tax incentives, and decentralized trade hubs that can bring private sector dynamism to neglected areas of the country.
Crisis Resilience
The Peruvian political scene is historically volatile, with frequent changes in cabinet and executive leadership. García Jerí’s background in "crisis management" suggests that CONFIEP intends to be more proactive, rather than reactive, in defending the interests of its members during periods of political turmoil. By establishing stronger, more institutionalized channels of communication with the government, the confederation hopes to act as a stabilizer for the business community.
Academic and Technical Rigor
By bringing a professional with an academic background in International Business to the forefront, CONFIEP is signaling that its future policy proposals will be grounded in global best practices. As Peru looks to deepen its trade relationships in the Pacific Rim and beyond, having a General Manager who understands the complexities of international trade will be an invaluable asset to the confederation’s members.
Conclusion: A New Standard of Leadership
The appointment of Carlos García Jerí marks a transition toward a more robust, professional, and strategically oriented CONFIEP. By bridging the gap between the granular needs of small businesses and the broad policy requirements of large corporations, he is tasked with steering the confederation through one of the most challenging periods in Peru’s recent history.
As he begins his tenure, the eyes of the Peruvian business community will be focused on his ability to foster unity among the 21 guilds and his capacity to translate institutional strategy into tangible results. In a country where the private sector is often under fire from political populism, García Jerí’s focus on formalization, investment, and regional development provides a clear and necessary roadmap for progress. The success of his tenure will likely be measured by the ability of the private sector to contribute to a more stable, competitive, and inclusive Peru.
