The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), closed the year 2021 reaping fruits of the actions that promoted the economic reactivation in the Dominican Republic, after the crisis generated by the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Free Zones sector became one of the most dynamic in the national economy with the installation and start-up of 100 new free zone companies with an investment of US $ 231.5 million, and the generation of 12,575 direct jobs.
In export matters, this sector generated the country 6.5 billion dollars with 734 manufacturing companies operating in 79 industrial parks, and enabling 182 thousand jobs, creating the bases to strengthen the nearshoring strategy and achieve one of the most important goals proposed by President Luis Abinader, to make the Dominican Republic the main logistics Hub in the region.
The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes, Víctor -Ito- Bisonó, made more than 50 visits to companies in all productive sectors as part of the ambitious “Industrial Route” program implemented by the current management, and which is dedicated to identifying opportunities for support for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises.
The local manufacturing industry made important advances, ranking first in the world in the manufacture of hair products, and becoming the main exporter in the Caribbean region in the production of cosmetics and plastics.
In reference to the cosmetics industry in 2021, it grew 300%, this added to the launch of a RD $ 108 million project to develop the production capacities of the sector.
MSMEs as the nerve center of the national economy facilitated the promotion of projects for the development of various business models, with training, support and financing for micro, small and medium-sized companies. These projects were grouped under the umbrella of the programs “Ruta Mipymes,” Mujeres en la Frontera “and” Certificación Mipymes Mujer “, of the Vice Ministry of Internal Trade.
Through the Entrepreneurship Directorate, 11,511 students and entrepreneurs were trained, 63 entrepreneurs received technical assistance to develop skills and design their business plans.
Similarly, 2,171 entrepreneurs from the 10 provinces of the border region, among other provinces, were trained in the “RD Entrepreneur Challenge” and “Border Challenge” programs.
At the national level, 1,609 entrepreneurs were trained in the RD Social Entrepreneur Challenge programs; and in the global Entrepreneurship week, 112 people were trained through the Entrepreneurial Communities Development Program (PDCE).
Another 7,500 students in the country received training in entrepreneurial mentality and culture, through the Aprender para Emprender Program and the Training Program for Facilitators in the Development of Entrepreneurial Mentality and Culture (Train of Training).
Modernizing Foreign Trade
The MICM delivered to the Executive Power the first National Strategy for the Export of Modern Services that seeks to promote exports in sectors of the creative economy, the audiovisual industry, telecommunications, information technology, among other so-called modern services.
The design process was carried out with the accompaniment of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), in an extensive day of 20 participatory consultations with more than 150 representatives of the different sectors involved. This strategy became the first in the country to market through the internet, services
The MICM implemented the First Interactive Panel on Foreign Trade “DATACOMEX-RD”, a statistical tool that allows the user to have access to reliable trade data and to carry out effective public policies.
The project was implemented through the Vice Ministry of Foreign Trade, the platform / contains 10 sections to consult products, countries, regions, ports, airports, regimes, as well as the routes through which the products sent by the Dominican Republic leave to the world .
telecommunications, computing, video games, software and other business services.
Transparency and competitiveness
As a sign of the commitment to competitiveness and transparency from government institutions, the first “National Policy for Quality” was approved, a tool that will ensure the safety, health and well-being of the population, will contribute to raising and maintaining standards in our products and services, and will help insert us into markets with greater productive competitiveness.
From the Vice Ministry of Internal Trade, tutor of the development of good practices in local commercial activity, the “Fair Prices” query application was designed and implemented, an instrument that suggests the value of the prices of the basic family basket and associated products.
Similarly, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs received the international ISO 9001: 2015 certification for having complied with all the elements of quality management in its different processes linked to its main services.
Other recognitions in terms of transparency, ethics and support for economic recovery were awarded by the Presidency of the Republic through the National Quality Award; by the General Directorate of Government Ethics and Integrity with three awards for participating in the digital campaign “Cut the Thread of Corruption; and by the industrial sector through the National Association of Industries, with the award for Institutional Work in Support of the Industrial Sector 2021.
