The ambassador of the European Union in the Dominican Republic said today that from the signing of the Agreement of Economic Association signed between the CARIFORO countries and the European Union (known as EPA) in 2008, the bilateral trade between the Dominican Republic and the EU it’s up 160%reaching a record high of 3.428 million euros in 2021.
Katja Afheldt said that the Dominican Republic is he main trading partner of the European Union in the Caribbean, as well as the main destination for European investment in the region.
“The prospects for our bilateral trade are flattering. The Dominican Republic continues to grow at a brisk paceand has shown remarkable resilience and resilience during and after the pandemic,” he said.
Afheldt said that the European Union it’s a key destiny for Dominican exports.
The diplomat spoke in the framework of the celebration of the 14th anniversary of the entry into force of the EPAactivity led by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes, Víctor -Ito- Bisonó.
This agreement constitutes one of the treaties free trade more important for the Dominican Republicthrough which mechanisms are made available to our producers that allow flexibility in the process of elaboration of merchandise with preferential treatment,” said Bisonó.
He explained that the country has become the main destination in the Caribbean for European exports tiles, cheeses, and powdered milk.
Furthermore, at the level of Latin America and the Caribbean, is the second buyer cheese, third in light oils and jewelry, fifth in plastic manufacturing, sixth in passenger cars and ninth in medicines.
The activity, where the EPA Awardshad as main speaker the Spanish jurist, Arancha Gonzalezwho since February 2022 is the dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA Sciences Po).
“I think that 14 years later we can say – if we look at the figuresif we look at the data- It has been successful,” he said.
He highlighted that commerce today has a greater demand for sustainability Y inclusion.
Awards
During the event, the European Union rewarded exporting and importing companies:
- In the category “Services in the creative industry” to Larimar Films
- In the category “Goods” to Centro Cuesta Nacional
- As an “exporting Mipyme” to HoneyBanana Fresh
- In the category “exporting woman” to Hacienda doña María Mercado
- In the category “Innovation” to Rizek Cacao
- In the category “Sustainability and circular economy” to Ly Company Caribe
- In the “Investment” category, Braun Medical, Inc.
