“The Government prefers creating public bodies and funding NGOs abroad to giving businesses breathing room”

Andorra Endavant president Carine Montaner is calling for a “change of direction” in Andorra over the Government’s housing and business policies.

Speaking to La Veu Lliure, the AE leader criticised the bureaucracy facing businesses and their difficulties finding workers, a situation she attributes to the executive’s lack of foresight.

“There is a serious problem in Andorra. A lack of planning, a lack of vision,” says Montaner, who believes the Government is failing to respond adequately to the needs of the business community.

The Andorra Endavant president places the role of businesses at the heart of her criticism: “The Government has not understood that businesses are the creators of wealth.”

In her view, public policies should facilitate economic activity and provide the means for businesses to develop.

Montaner’s remarks come amid concern within the business community about recruitment difficulties and administrative burdens.

The Andorran Business Confederation (CEA) has warned that current immigration quotas do not meet businesses’ needs and has called for permits tailored to their projects.

Meanwhile, a Chamber of Commerce study indicates that Andorran businesses spend almost 20 hours a month dealing with bureaucracy and administrative procedures.

Supporting businesses to fund projects for citizens

Montaner argues that supporting businesses should help generate resources that can subsequently benefit the wider population. “This wealth will then allow us to develop projects for our citizens,” she says.

The parliamentarian contrasts this proposal with the priorities she attributes to the executive. In her assessment, the Government prefers creating more public bodies and increasing public spending, as well as funding non-governmental organisations running projects abroad.

Her remarks do not specify which organisations or grants she is questioning, but express disagreement with the allocation of public resources and the Government’s approach to managing them.

During the current parliamentary term, funding has been allocated to organisations carrying out cooperation projects in developing countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America, with initiatives focused on equality, LGBT rights and access to education.

“What the Government prefers is to create more public bodies to generate public spending or subsidise NGOs carrying out projects outside Andorra. Andorra needs a change of direction.”

Montaner calls for better planning and stronger support for businesses as the foundation for generating wealth and developing projects that benefit citizens.