Santiago. After four years of government administration under President Luis Abinader, business and development associations in Santiago and the northern region consider the balance to be positive and highlight economic growth and social stability.
However, they consider that there are still unfinished tasks that require urgent attention, such as: educational quality, health and social protection, the electricity sector, migration and the prison system.
Juan Ventura, from the Northern Region Industry Association (AIREN), believes that in these four years the Government has presented a growing economy, social stability, a significant increase in foreign investment and a tourism sector that has become a benchmark in the region.
“We have seen growth in the free zone sectors and continued support from the diaspora. These achievements are certainly bright lights on the path.
However, Ventura points out that despite the progress, it is necessary to continue improving the quality of education, including teacher training, updating curricular programs and investing in school infrastructure.
Greater effort
The president of AIREN says that despite the efforts made, it is essential to continue working on substantial improvements in the health system.
“This means ensuring access to quality medical services for all citizens and strengthening pension plans,” the business leader added.
Regarding the electricity sector, he said that the high cost and inefficiency represent a burden on the national budget, which is why it is necessary to address this problem urgently to guarantee a sustainable and affordable electricity supply.
As for migration management and prison conditions, she said these are issues that require more attention. She argues that it is important to implement effective policies to address these challenges.
He supports education as a strategy and believes that it should be seen as a key tool for the country’s competitiveness. Ventura calls for investing in the training of qualified human resources as essential for economic and social development.
He suggests improving road infrastructure and strengthening the justice system and continuing to accelerate the fight against corruption. Saúl Abreu, executive director of Apedi, calls for continued strengthening of institutionality and transparency and for the completion of the set of works that Santiago and the Northern region deserve and need to strengthen their development and continue making great contributions to the national economy.
Abreu highlights the investments in the province of Santiago. For his part, Ricardo Fondeur, from the Council for the Strategic Development of Santiago (CDES), valued as key factors of President Luis Abinader’s management in the past government period 2020-2024, the impact on the pandemic, the sectorization of investment in Santiago and the Cibao, the strengthening of the free trade zone model and the expansion of tourism.
Public investments in Santiago stand out
Fondeur highlights the investment of 258 billion pesos of private and public investment in Santiago, which makes it a mecca for attracting investments. Planeta will continue to implement effective and protective projects in the green system of parks, plazas and tree-lined streets, such as the rescue of the Gurabo River and the refurbishment of the historic center.
