Santo Domingo- President Luis Abinader assured that, despite the news about the world economy for 2023, the Dominican Republic will be “the light and beacon of Latin America as we have been these years both in the recovery from the post-pandemic, the economic and in many other sectors.”
After receiving recognition from the National Federation of Merchants and Entrepreneurs of the Dominican Republic (Fenacerd) “for being the inspiring spark of economic recovery and post-pandemic employment in the Dominican Republic,” the president predicted that growth will be between one 4 and 5 percent or maybe higher because the news that comes out that can harm the world economy will not necessarily affect the Dominican Republic.
“Our country has a very diverse production matrix, which is our strength; on the one hand, we have tourism, on the other the free zones, in the case of the balance of payments and foreign exchange we have remittances, we also fear a strong agricultural sector, we have a strong industrial sector4 and we recovered it during the pandemic, we have a very dynamic construction sector, so I am very optimistic about the Dominican economy,” said the president.
The head of state considered that these data will make it possible to reproduce the growth of this 2022, which is estimated at 5 or 5.5 percent, which is not only an achievement of the government since the commercial and business sectors make their contributions without which it would not have been possible.
“That fabric, that alliance that we have made with the productive sectors since we came to government, which many criticize, is what has really helped this economy and will continue to help it,” he said.
He announced that the data he received on tourism projections for this month shows, once again, record figures which contribute to consumption and help development and economic growth, which is added to the growth of free zones that is estimated at a 20 percent.
He expressed his satisfaction at being at the meeting and for the unity of the sector that enables the government to interact with the sector to give them more support and develop joint projects.
He recalled that MSMEs, of which the commerce sector is a part, are the engine of the Dominican economy and will always have the support of their management to develop actions in favor of the country.
He said that with this sector the project “From the field to the grocery store” will be carried out, which, through Merca Santo Domingo, will make it possible to put the prices of items between producers and merchants and thereby eliminate irrational intermediation margins that in many Sometimes they originate in the distribution.
“In this way we bring fair prices to producers and consumers, which is the balance that all governments have to achieve,” stressed the head of state, assuring that he will continue to support the unity of the sector because it will be fruitful for trade and the country.
Recognized in Fenacerd congress
The president was recognized at the closing ceremony of the tenth national congress of the organization whose motto was: “Change, sustainability, and consolidation of trade and MSMEs” and the swearing-in of its new Board of Directors, in which, in the words Opening remarks, Ricardo Rosario, highlighted that the president made possible the unification of the trade sector and granted facilities to that sector due to the importance it has for the country.
“Thank God, in your government, we have had the support of Promipyme, Agriculture and the Agricultural Bank, which makes it possible to guarantee the country’s food security,” said the business leader.
In the words of exhortation to the merchants, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Víctor (Ito) Bisonó, highlighted that Fenacerd has been a key piece for our country to emerge successfully from the international price crisis and guarantors that the sales of many products that have begun to give way.
“They were key responsible for the country being fully supplied with merchandise, while we watched with solidarity concern what was happening in different latitudes around the world,” the official emphasized.
He expressed joy that José Díaz was re-elected as president of the entity because it guarantees the continuation of working with great allies, being a helping hand in the execution of actions that guarantee a better country with opportunities for all Dominicans.
“It is logical in my case to feel joy because it is a management that has done invaluable work for the country that is going to continue and of course my joy is more logical because I have always believed and now with more faith I believe that the second periods are guarantees transformation and change consolidation. This is how I conceive politics and that is why I continue to work,” said Bisonó.
After being sworn in as president of Fenacerd, José Díaz highlighted the government’s response after the atmospheric phenomena that hit the country, thanks to which it returned to normality in record time.
“If we want to be fair, we have to emphasize that, for the first time, a President of the Republic summons all sectors of commerce to discuss measures to guarantee the supply of food at the lowest prices to the Dominican population,” he stressed.
The management of the entity is completed, among others, Robertson Núñez and José Núñez, first and second vice president; Daniel Candelario, director of Press, Publicity and Propaganda; Fellito Luna, CEO; Eladio Asencio, Deputy Director General and Ana Isabel Ulloa, Director of Finance; Guarionex Carela, Deputy Director of Finance; Ramón de los Santos, Director of Organization and Manuel Horacio Acosta, Director of Control.
The president was accompanied in the activity, in addition to the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, the administrator of the Agricultural Bank, Fernando Durán; the directors of the National Council for the Promotion and Support of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Promipyme), Porfirio Peralta; from the Center for Development and Industrial Competitiveness (Proindustria), Ulises Rodríguez and from the National Institute for Price Stabilization (Inespre), Iván Hernández Guzmán.
