Santo Domingo, RD.- The general director of the Center for Industrial Development and Competitiveness (Proindustria), Rafael Cruz Rodríguez, led the signing of the inter-institutional agreement for the creation of the Intersectoral Table of the Pro-Industrial Women Program.
This is an agreement signed between several key institutions in the sector in the Dominican Republic. The main objective of this is to promote the participation of women in the industrial sector.
When taking the floor, Cruz Rodríguez expressed that, “although the local manufacturing industry has made important advances in terms of gender equality and equity, the challenge of inserting a greater number of women in all areas of manufacturing and in positions still persists. of leadership.”
“We are convinced that, to promote true industrial development in our country, it is essential that women have an active and leading role in this process,” he added, while highlighting that the management of the government of President Luis Abinader values the contribution of women to the local manufacturing industry and promotes policies that facilitate their participation in the industry.
Likewise, he indicated that this intersectoral table “represents the joint commitment of all these institutions, in joining efforts and coordinating actions that promote and encourage the participation of women in the industrial ecosystem.”
On the other hand, recognizing the fundamental role that women play in our economy, Mr. Julio Virgilio Brache, president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AiRD), stated that “it fills us with pride to see how joint efforts materialize to further promote that role. The fact that we are able to unite resources and will in this agreement gives us confidence and certainty that we are moving forward.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Women, Mayra Jiménez, highlighted that “this effort will allow the Dominican Republic to realize the intention of building an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable industrial sector.”
The agreement brings together various institutions to promote collaboration in the creation of initiatives that promote the development of women entrepreneurs in the industry, with a focus on quality, exports, micro, small and medium-sized businesses, and access to financing.
The main objectives of the agreement include strengthening the technical and administrative capacities of industrial women, making them more competitive nationally and internationally, eliminating cultural barriers that limit the productivity of women in the industry, as well as promoting gender inclusion policies in industrial companies, highlighting the economic and social benefits.
The preamble of the agreement signed in the AIRD Business Building establishes several important points, among them the constitutional obligation of the State to protect the rights of people and promote equity and social justice.
Likewise, it highlights the country’s commitment to international public policies in favor of women’s rights.
In that context, Proindustria has designed the Pro-Industrial Women program, which will offer technical assistance, training and business links to industries led by women, especially MSMEs.
The agreement has a duration of two years and each of the parties will contribute resources, technical advice and support in their respective areas. Proindustria will lead the technical coordination, while other entities, such as the Ministry of Women and PRODOMINICANA, will provide specialized advice.
This inter-institutional agreement represents a significant step towards the inclusion and empowerment of women in the Dominican industry, ensuring coordinated work to meet the proposed objectives.
With this milestone, Proindustria reaffirms, together with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), its commitment to the creation and promotion of public policies that encourage gender equality in the industrial manufacturing sector.
About Pro-Industrial Women
From Proindustria, it is intrinsically understood that it is necessary to articulate efforts to reduce the gender gap in the sector and, they are on the right track, since to date, the program has integrated more than 200 women owners of micro, small and medium-sized businesses, all of them have a great history of resilience and work capacity, who have been supported with technical assistance, in addition to providing them with access to soft financing and helping them qualify for tax incentives for the acquisition of equipment, raw materials and inputs.
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