SNCI: Peru needs concrete actions to boost infrastructure

The National Construction and Infrastructure Society (SNCI) reaffirms its commitment to strengthening national public infrastructure and to promoting concrete measures aimed at reducing the gaps that affect Peru's economic and social development.

In recent days, initiatives and coordination spaces have been announced related to promoting infrastructure and competitiveness projects in different regions of the country. All efforts aimed at promoting investments and strengthening decentralized development are welcome; however, it is necessary to remember that Peru needs to move beyond announcements and agreements.

Along these lines, since February 2024, the SNCI has promoted the presentation of legislative initiatives aimed at modernizing the management of public infrastructure, including:

1. Bill for the creation of the Ministry of Infrastructure, as an entity responsible for planning, coordinating, formulating, executing, and supervising the management of public infrastructure at the national level, with the aim of providing quality public services to the population, considering a territorial and social approach, as well as criteria of efficiency and sustainability.

2. Law No. 32460, which strengthens and optimizes the Works for Taxes mechanism, incorporating the Services for Taxes mechanism and expanding the types of projects and investments eligible for execution under said model, for the benefit of millions of Peruvians.

Peru currently has instruments and mechanisms aimed at developing infrastructure and competitiveness: National Sustainable Infrastructure Plan for Competitiveness (2022) y National Infrastructure Plan 2026-2031 (03/2026), which prioritizes 72 projects worth S/ 144 billion, among others, which must be executed efficiently and in an integrated manner.

The SNCI considers this a time when guilds, technical institutions, and authorities must act in a coordinated and united manner, prioritizing solutions that address the real needs of the population and improve national competitiveness.

In that context, we call for concern in ensuring, for example, that the sanitary registration of new medicines does not take 5 to 14 years; and, the reduction of the high cost of medicines, as it is very concerning that in countries like ours there are cases where the cost is 3 or 4 times higher compared to European countries, affecting the economy and health of millions of Peruvians; as it will be of no use to build more hospitals without access to medicines.

Peru's interests must come first; ensure legal stability, adequate wealth distribution, for the benefit of the population that, despite growth, still lacks access to basic services such as water, sewage, health, and education; for these reasons, we call on current presidential candidates to keep these aspects firmly in mind.

Finally, the SNCI calls on the Government for the Armed Forces to accompany the transfer of ballots in order to guarantee access for all Peruvians to exercise their right to vote on June 7, in accordance with Article 31 of the Political Constitution of Peru.