The greatest need for logistics sector of the Dominican Republic is the lack of technical personnel, according to Alexander Schad, president of the Trade Facilitation Committee (CNFC) of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (amchamdr).
“The main need we have is for technical personnel and for that there are many initiatives that are being carried out to train that personnel. Personnel who look at the procedures, who have the bills of lading, ”she said. “Now there are three high schools with a concentration in logistics and we have to follow that same step from high school to universities.”
He assured that there is already a shortage in this sense, noting in logistics companies that there are always between 10 and 30 vacancies available.
“A logistics institute is being created, precisely to train that demand, public and private investment that is aimed at training people at a basic level so that they go to the logistics sector and not to another,” he specified.
He assured that the Dominican Republic has the hard infrastructure to be a logistics hub in the region.
“All the infrastructures are already there. In other words, we have ports, airports, highways, warehouses, logistics operators, in other words, we think that the investment is not going to be in hard infrastructure, but in improving processes, making them more agile. The investment (will be made now) is in the system, in technology, so that the process itself is more agile. They are not physical things, but rather issues of processes that must be reversed”, he expressed.
logistics industry
Recently, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), Víctor -Ito- Bisonó, said that in 2021 the logistics industry managed to mobilize some 2,600 million dollars of products through its platform, going from some 34 million dollars in 2017, a growth of 7,900%.
He explained that the logistics centers went from re-exporting around 11 million dollars in 2017, to about 507 million dollars in 2021, for a growth of approximately 4,610%.
Trade mission
Schad spoke to Free Journal on a visit with Sharine de Marchena from amchamdrwhere they explained that the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (amchamdr) will hold the Learning and Development trade mission Logistics Hub–Spain 2022an initiative that aims to learn first-hand about the experience and success stories in the development of logistics platforms at an international level.
This event, which will take place from October 22 to 29 in the cities of Madrid Y Saragossawill also offer a space for the private sector to join the efforts of the logistics hub table in which the National Committee for Trade Facilitation (CNFC) works, of which amchamdr She’s a secretary.
According to the data provided, the academic program for this trade mission is 36 teaching hoursbetween theoretical and practical sessions with experts.
The Logistics HUB mission – Spain 2022 It is exploratory, of an academic nature, carried out in collaboration with the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) as a public-private initiative. It will seek immersion in international logistics for its participants, so that they can learn about the latest legislative framework in the region and logistics project management models.
“The country is on track and trying to be more and more a cargo logistics hub. For that purpose we need to learn and take strategies that have already traveled that same path. For that same purpose and to gain experience, the trip was designed with actors from the public and private sectors, because the two actors are needed together to be a successful logistics hub, and it was decided to go to Zaragoza, Spain; specifically Zaragoza because it is a case study, they have a very important logistics hub,” said Schad.
The participants will have the opportunity to learn how Zaragoza has become a national and international logistics benchmark, as well as share the vision of the regional and national authorities and public institutions that promoted the positioning of that city.
Sharine de Marchena said that those interested have until September 30 to register. In addition, between 15 and 25 people will have the opportunity to participate in this academic activity in Spain. To know the requirements you can contact the amchamdr. Also, they can access their social networks.
