"In Mexico, it is often said that our country must be a country of laws. I would add that Mexico must also be a country of institutions that respond to and have the confidence of the people," asserts Lorenzo Peláez Dorantes, Director General of La Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana (COPARMEX). "We must ensure that we do not betray the principles on which these organizations are founded."
Toward that end, COPARMEX, Mexico's Confederation of Employers, has worked to strengthen Mexico's private sector and to present the face of business to government officials. Peláez seeks answers through questions.
"First," he asks, "What do we want? COPARMEX's response is 'more and better companies for Mexico.' The clarity with which this idea is being pursued in diverse forums will help us to be more consistent in the socio-political and socio-economic role that we play in our country."
"The second question," Peláez asks, is "how are we going to achieve this? The answer is provocative and clear. We believe in an economy based on free markets because we know that without them, Mexico's development will be neither just nor sustainable."
Peláez joined COPARMEX in 1986 and became Director General of the organization in 1994. COPARMEX was established in 1929, but most of its history was spent, like many entities in Mexico, under the explicit or implicit oversight of the government. But in today's Mexican economy, Peláez says, "Our work has been to try to modernize COPARMEX so that it can respond effectively to the needs of Mexican companies today."
"At this critical socio-political juncture," Peláez continues, "we must ensure that our proposals are solid and have a greater chance of being carried out." With this in mind, he suggests, "We must refine and improve our advocacy strategy before both the legislative and executive branches of government."
Mexico's economy must be based on a free market, says Peláez. While many elements are needed to facilitate this process, he notes, one of the most important is the participation of business leaders who believe in free market principles. "My main hope," Peláez concludes, is to "see the creation of more of these types of institutions in Mexico, through which our people can give the best of themselves for the betterment of society as a whole."