José “Pepe” Mujica: “As Latin Americans we need to have a more collective strategy regarding the world"

In a new edition of the program Conversando con CAF (Conversations with CAF), José "Pepe" Mujica, former President of Uruguay and Enrique Garcia, Executive President of CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, highlighted the need to have a regional collective strategy to face the new world context of economic deceleration, and agreed that the current scenario presents the opportunity to advance toward productive transformation in Latin America. 

Mujica added, "The first thing we need to do is to avoid despair" regarding the strong fall of Latin American trade during 2015 as a result of the slowdown of the Chinese economy. He added, "The second thing is that we have to continue introducing technology and efficiency in our productive processes; we have to use this time to develop things that we are not doing. This means that we need to have a more collective strategy between Latin Americans to face the world". 

A central subject during the conversation that took place in Paris, dealt with what to do and how to position Latin America in the face of a Chinese deceleration. Enrique Garcia pointed out "Latin America does not have a clear strategy regarding Latin America, as China does. What Latin America needs is to create a productive transformation that enables the entrance into areas with more value added, more innovation, and technology".  

Faithful to his style, Mujica came up with an example to show the complexity that China presents to the region, stating "The presence of China is unavoidable and we need it, but one thing is to let China invest as it pleases, and another is to state conditions. Does it want to build a car factory? No problem, but make the engines in Brazil, the body parts in Argentina, and we Uruguayans will make even if it is only the windshields. This is a direct investment that helps integration. 

García agreed, and added "the message that we need to give to China is that it should not concentrate on the extraction areas without leaving any value added. If it builds roads, housing, shopping malls, they should not bring the workers but rather employ local workers as, in the long run, it is positive for both parties".

Mujica, worldwide known for his austere lifestyle, highlighted the importance that rulers "live like the majority of the people rather than as the minority, because if not, we distance ourselves and people loose faith in politics". CAF's President emphasized this aspect: "The message that I get is one of human behavior, values, ethics, especially in the performance of government functions. This is the message that must be delivered, especially to the new generations that will participate in politics". 

During the conversation, both were enthusiastic about the advances in the peace agreement between Colombia and the FARC, and highlighted that it transcends that country. Mujica stated, "This is not a problem of peace in Colombia, but rather of all Latin Americans". 

For García "maybe the agreement is not perfect, but it is a very positive and essential step for the future not only of Colombia, but for the region". 

In addition, they both approved the recent agreement signed between the United States and Iran. Mujica stated, "The road to change reality is not war, but rather use the tools provided by peace and the organization of human beings". 

Garcia added, "Any process that establishes peace conditions and understanding is welcome". 

To see the dialogue between Mujica and Garcia, access the web site www.conversandoconcaf.com and the YouTube channel Conversando con CAF.