The president of the Association of Exporters (ADEX), Juan Varilias Velasquez, said he was confident that the governments work, with support from the private sector and the population, would help normalize the situation in the country. He said he expected they would overcome the damage caused by the rains and mudslides that destroyed houses and infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, which are vital to the development of the productive apparatus.
"The decision, taken a few days ago, to allow the entry of domestic and foreign ships to ensure the supply of cargo and passengers, was timely and it is something that we had requested," he said referring to the Emergency Decree No. 005 -2017.
He also said that companies in the sector had been affected in different degrees. The main impact is linked to the damage to infrastructure, as the lack of connection to the ports makes it impossible for producers to collect the production from packing centers or production plants. However, Varilias said he was sure that the government would restore the roads shortly.
"The rains and climate change are causing the crops to come in ahead of, or behind, schedule. There have been variations in the quality and production yields in mango and grapes. The floods also affected banana and lemon crops," he said.
Varillas Velasquez also highlighted the responsiveness of the companies, which in the case of the agricultural sector are shifting their production to the local market or allocating their fresh products to the frozen or processed presentations. "This has happened with asparagus and mango," he said.
In addition, he expressed his concern about the producers who had been affected by the weather phenomenon by saying they were an important part of the export chain and most vulnerable to the current circumstances. "Another important issue is preventing the accumulated water from becoming a focus for pests in the production areas," he said.
He added that there was a delay in shipments and, therefore, their arrival to the destination countries would also be delayed. "This situation teaches us that we must prioritize prevention efforts. There should also be sanctions for those who boldly construct buildings near rivers, and, as we've known for years, we need alternative routes to the main road."
"Now, the construction of tunnels that shorten distances gains more relevance. Currently, the costs for the central road have increased by 30% and this increases the price of products," he said.