The Confederación Nacional de Instituciones Empresariales Privadas (CONFIEP), Peru’s most influential private sector representative body, has officially announced the appointment of Carlos García Jerí as its new General Manager. This strategic move marks a significant transition for the organization, which serves as the umbrella entity for 21 trade associations spanning micro, small, medium, and large enterprises across ten key economic sectors in the country.
García Jerí assumes his role at a pivotal moment for the Peruvian economy. Tasked with supporting the vision of CONFIEP President Jorge Zapata Ríos, his primary mandate involves spearheading initiatives that bolster private investment, enhance national competitiveness, foster formal employment, and catalyze sustainable regional development.
A Proven Track Record: The Professional Evolution of Carlos García Jerí
Carlos García Jerí enters the position with an extensive background in strategic management and institutional leadership. An engineer by training, he has built a career defined by his ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes and represent the interests of the business community at the highest levels of national discourse.
Key Professional Milestones
García Jerí’s professional journey is marked by significant tenures at some of Peru’s most prestigious business institutions:
- Chamber of Commerce of Lima (CCL): Before joining CONFIEP, he served as the General Manager of the CCL, where he was responsible for institutional sustainability, the refinement of management controls, and the strengthening of high-level relationships between private entities and public sector stakeholders.
- National Society of Industries (SNI): Prior to his work at the CCL, García Jerí held the position of General Manager at the SNI. During his tenure, he was instrumental in overseeing institutional restructuring and enhancing the representative capacity of the industrial sector.
- Center for Foreign Trade (CCL): For nearly a decade, he led the Center for Foreign Trade. In this capacity, he played a vital role in promoting the internationalization of Peruvian businesses, facilitating international cooperation agreements, and advocating for policies that strengthened the nation’s export capabilities.
Academic and Intellectual Foundation
García Jerí’s professional experience is deeply rooted in rigorous academic training. He holds an MBA from CENTRUM Graduate Business School and has pursued specialized executive education in crisis management and senior administration. Furthermore, he has contributed to the academic sector as a professor of International Business at the Universidad del Pacífico, bridging the gap between theoretical economic models and the practical realities of the Peruvian market.
Institutional Context: The Role of CONFIEP in the Peruvian Economy
To understand the weight of this appointment, one must examine the role CONFIEP plays within the Peruvian state. As the primary voice of the private sector, the organization functions as a bridge between the business community and the government. Its 21 member associations represent the backbone of the national economy.
Supporting Data: The Scope of Influence
The sectors represented by CONFIEP cover the spectrum of the Peruvian productive apparatus:
- Mining and Energy: The drivers of national exports and foreign exchange.
- Manufacturing: The engine of domestic job creation.
- Agriculture and Agro-export: A vital sector for regional development.
- Financial Services: The bedrock of liquidity and capital investment.
- Construction and Infrastructure: Key indicators of domestic growth and public-private partnerships (PPPs).
- Retail and Services: Major contributors to the formalization of the labor market.
By centralizing the interests of these diverse sectors, CONFIEP acts as the primary interlocutor in policy debates regarding tax reform, labor regulations, and environmental standards. The General Manager is the operational engine that ensures these disparate interests are harmonized into a coherent, actionable agenda.
Official Statements and Strategic Alignment
In welcoming García Jerí to the team, the leadership of CONFIEP underscored the necessity of his experience in the current political climate. The organization stated that the appointment is designed to fortify "institutional articulation."
"The incorporation of García Jerí will contribute significantly to the strengthening of our institutional framework," the board noted in an official statement. "His expertise in high-level management and his deep understanding of trade representation will allow us to push forward proposals that are not only pro-investment but also socially responsible and regionally inclusive."
President Jorge Zapata Ríos emphasized that the partnership between his office and the new General Manager is focused on breaking the current stagnation in private investment. The collaboration aims to create a "predictable and competitive environment" that encourages local entrepreneurs and attracts foreign direct investment (FDI), which has seen volatility in recent quarters.
Implications for the Future: Challenges and Opportunities
The appointment of a seasoned executive like García Jerí comes at a time when the private sector in Peru faces multifaceted challenges. His leadership will likely be tested in three critical areas:
1. Promoting Investment Amidst Political Uncertainty
The primary challenge facing the new General Manager is the restoration of investor confidence. Peru has experienced periods of political instability that have hampered long-term project planning. García Jerí’s background in crisis management and his experience in the National Society of Industries make him uniquely qualified to advocate for stability and clear regulatory frameworks that protect long-term capital commitments.
2. The Drive for Formalization
One of the most persistent hurdles for the Peruvian economy is the high rate of informality, which limits tax revenue and social security coverage for millions of workers. CONFIEP, under its new management, is expected to intensify its lobbying efforts for labor and tax reforms that lower the barriers to entry for micro and small businesses. By leveraging his experience at the Chamber of Commerce, García Jerí is expected to advocate for a more integrated, digital-first approach to business formalization.
3. Strengthening Regional Development
A common criticism of the Peruvian economic model is the concentration of growth in the capital, Lima. The mandate given to García Jerí includes a focus on regional development. This entails working with regional governments to unblock infrastructure projects and promote agro-industrial clusters in provinces that have traditionally lagged in the national growth statistics. By fostering decentralized economic hubs, CONFIEP aims to create a more resilient national economy that is less susceptible to centralized political shocks.
Strategic Outlook: A Proactive Agenda
As Carlos García Jerí takes the helm, the business community is looking for a proactive approach. The expectation is that he will utilize his extensive network—built over decades of leadership in the SNI and CCL—to foster a more collaborative relationship with both the executive and legislative branches of government.
His tenure will likely focus on three core pillars:
- Institutional Sustainability: Modernizing the administrative processes within CONFIEP to ensure the organization remains agile and responsive to the rapid changes in the global economic landscape.
- Enhanced Advocacy: Utilizing data-driven policy recommendations to engage with public authorities on matters of taxation, trade policy, and labor law.
- Global Connectivity: Leveraging his background in the Center for Foreign Trade to advocate for trade agreements and economic partnerships that open new markets for Peruvian SMEs.
Conclusion
The appointment of Carlos García Jerí is a clear signal from CONFIEP that it is prioritizing seasoned, pragmatic leadership to navigate the complexities of the current economic environment. With a background that perfectly balances industrial expertise, international trade, and institutional management, García Jerí is positioned to act as a stabilizing force.
As he steps into the role of General Manager, the success of his tenure will be measured by his ability to translate the diverse needs of the 21 trade associations he represents into a unified, national agenda. If successful, his efforts could pave the way for a new era of investment-led growth, stronger regional inclusion, and a more robust, formal economy for Peru. The business community now watches with anticipation as he begins to align the machinery of the country’s most powerful business organization with the challenges of the future.
