the minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, said today that there will be no lack of resources for health or for the economy.
Thus, the minister's statement was made during a videoconference held by the president of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), Paulo Skaf, and 40 members of the Superior Council of Dialogue for Brazil.
Combating the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy was the topic of the meeting.
“No Brazilian will be left behind. We will release all the resources that health needs and, likewise, we will not let the economy run out of liquidity”, assured the minister.
However, he also ruled out raising taxes at this time, as some deputies have suggested. “The crisis we are experiencing is transitory. If we raise taxes, we will break the legs of companies, which will prevent the economy from resuming later on”, pondered the minister.
Minister Paulo Guedes
For Skaf, “the money has to get into the hands of the companies”. However, he asked the minister that the measure announced yesterday (27) to finance the payroll of small companies that earn between R$ 360 thousand and R$ 10 million for two months be extended to other companies, smaller and larger.
Therefore, Guedes told businessmen that one of the great challenges now for the government is to get more tests for the population.
Despite responding to the minister, businessmen were willing to contribute by buying exams to test employees and pass the surplus on to the government.
“Let's buy a million tests. About 70,000 will go to our employees and the rest we will donate”, said the co-president of the Board of Ambev, Victorio de Marchi.
Edgard Corona, president of Grupo Bio Ritmo/Smart Fit, also promised to purchase tests for his employees and the population. “We want to flood Brazil with tests,” said Corona.
Paulo Guedes said that the Chief Minister of the Civil House, Braga Neto, was assigned to take care of the logistics of distribution of exams donated by companies.
