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DR at Caricom meeting
The DR is attending the Caricom's 30th Conference of Heads of State and Government. While the DR is partnered with Caricom in Cariforum, the DR has failed to become a full member of Caricom for a raft of reasons.
However, discussions at the conference, being held in Guyana between 2 and 5 July, could forge the path to the DR's integration in the regional trading block.
Cesar Dargam Espaillat, Executive Secretary of the National Trade Negotiations Commission, commented, "this is an opportunity for the country to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening relations with Caricom, paying attention to the realities of the region, and following the commitments of the Cariforum."
Dargam said that DR officials have been adamant about strengthening relations with Caricom and creating a more participative and transparent Caricom that benefits the region.
03 July 2009 - DR1 Daily News
However, discussions at the conference, being held in Guyana between 2 and 5 July, could forge the path to the DR's integration in the regional trading block.
Cesar Dargam Espaillat, Executive Secretary of the National Trade Negotiations Commission, commented, "this is an opportunity for the country to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening relations with Caricom, paying attention to the realities of the region, and following the commitments of the Cariforum."
Dargam said that DR officials have been adamant about strengthening relations with Caricom and creating a more participative and transparent Caricom that benefits the region.
03 July 2009 - DR1 Daily News
DR not taking advantage of EPA
Ramesh Chaitoo, Services Trade Specialist with the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) says the DR is not taking full advantage of the European Partnership Agreement. In an interview with Listin Diario, Chaitoo called for educating the business sector in the DR to understand the opportunities provided by the EPA. Chaitoo was accompanied by Jonathan Pitts, who is in charge of communications and public affairs at the European Union mission in the DR.
The EU recently hosted a workshop "Services and Investment in the Cariforum-EC Economic Partnership Agreement" with the support of the Center for Export and Investments, the Federation of European Chambers of Commerce and the Department of Foreign Commerce of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce (Dicoex). The European Union and the Federation of European Chambers of Commerce sponsored the event.
Chaitoo says there are significant opportunities in the sectors of tourism and professional services. He mentioned several areas where there are work opportunities for Dominicans in Europe in the fields of accounting, architecture, advertising, entertainment and information technology.
He said the country could receive US$27 million in cooperation assistance this year, but the funds need to be programmed by the authorities. He called on the private sector to be more proactive in securing business with Europe.
03 July 2009 - DR1 Daily News
The EU recently hosted a workshop "Services and Investment in the Cariforum-EC Economic Partnership Agreement" with the support of the Center for Export and Investments, the Federation of European Chambers of Commerce and the Department of Foreign Commerce of the Ministry of Industry & Commerce (Dicoex). The European Union and the Federation of European Chambers of Commerce sponsored the event.
Chaitoo says there are significant opportunities in the sectors of tourism and professional services. He mentioned several areas where there are work opportunities for Dominicans in Europe in the fields of accounting, architecture, advertising, entertainment and information technology.
He said the country could receive US$27 million in cooperation assistance this year, but the funds need to be programmed by the authorities. He called on the private sector to be more proactive in securing business with Europe.
03 July 2009 - DR1 Daily News
Henry Gill resignation, a major loss
Henry Gill, director general of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) has resigned, effective 30 June 2009. The resignation followed the March 2009 decision taken by the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to incorporate the CRNM into the Caricom Secretariat as a specialized department. The office played a leading role in the crafting of the regional negotiating strategy pursued in the expanded Caricom + Dominican Republic (Cariforum) negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
Ivan Ogando, current general manager of the International Development Bank (IDB) funded International Trade and Development Industry program at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, commented that this was a major setback for the region and the DR "because he is one of the best experts at the service of cooperation and regional integration." Ogando said that with Gill's resignation the DR loses one of the best liaisons it had with the English-speaking Caribbean. "Henry is one of the few people who fully understands Caribbean idiosyncrasies as well as the Latin idiosyncrasy. He is a person who knows how to find a fair consensus in regional negotiations," declared Ogando, who from 2005 to 2007 worked as EPA coordinator at the CRNM that administered the EUR1.3 million-fund in support of the EPA negotiations.
The Dominican government had supported the position that the CRNM team was the most capable of being entrusted with the role of Cariforum coordinator with the joint Cariforum-EC Council for the implementation of the EPA.
13 May 2009 - DR1 Daily News
Ivan Ogando, current general manager of the International Development Bank (IDB) funded International Trade and Development Industry program at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, commented that this was a major setback for the region and the DR "because he is one of the best experts at the service of cooperation and regional integration." Ogando said that with Gill's resignation the DR loses one of the best liaisons it had with the English-speaking Caribbean. "Henry is one of the few people who fully understands Caribbean idiosyncrasies as well as the Latin idiosyncrasy. He is a person who knows how to find a fair consensus in regional negotiations," declared Ogando, who from 2005 to 2007 worked as EPA coordinator at the CRNM that administered the EUR1.3 million-fund in support of the EPA negotiations.
The Dominican government had supported the position that the CRNM team was the most capable of being entrusted with the role of Cariforum coordinator with the joint Cariforum-EC Council for the implementation of the EPA.
13 May 2009 - DR1 Daily News
Explaining the EPA
The Federation of European Chambers of Commerce in the Dominican Republic, the European Commission Delegation and the Center for Exports & Investments in the DR (CEI-RD) are holding a workshop to explain the full scope of the European Partnership Agreement passed by Congress on October 27. The agreement creates a reciprocal trading block between Cariforum countries and the European Union. It is presented as an agreement with instruments for improving the Dominican Republic's competitiveness, helping the country diversify its exports and develop regional markets. The conference is scheduled for 26 November at the CEI-RD conference hall at Plaza de la Independencia from 9am to 12:30pm.
Anyone interested in attending should e-mail the Federation at Fedecamaras.eu.rd@gmail.com or call 809 616-2335. The same workshop will be held in Santiago, on Friday 5 December at the Edificio Empresarial.
25 November 2008 - DR1 Daily News
Anyone interested in attending should e-mail the Federation at Fedecamaras.eu.rd@gmail.com or call 809 616-2335. The same workshop will be held in Santiago, on Friday 5 December at the Edificio Empresarial.
25 November 2008 - DR1 Daily News
Businesses push EPA ratification
The National Business Council (CONEP) is asking Congress to ratify the free trade agreement with the European Union, the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) before 31 October. Conep president Lisandro Macarulla said that failing to ratify the agreement would create a negative atmosphere for the country's competitiveness, reduce revenue and endanger job security for strategic sectors of the Dominican economy. Macarulla also pointed out that the financial crisis that is affecting the EU could provide economic opportunities for the DR in terms of investment. Ricardo Koening, president of the Dominican Export Association, says that the EPA is the best trade agreement the DR has signed to date.
24 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
24 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
EPA brings hope
Dominican Exporters' Association (ADOPEX) president Ricardo Koenig says that products like rum, tobacco and bananas will enter the European markets with ease following the signing of the European Partnership Agreement between the DR, Caricom and the European Union in Barbados this week. The agreement still needs to be ratified by Congress.
Koenig explained the rules of origins clause is more flexible than in the DR-CAFTA agreement and this would make it easier for Dominicans to export local produce to Europe. According to Koenig, exports to the EU total 29.3% of the DR's total exports for a total of US$661.9 million. In comparison the DR exports 26.4% to the US for a total value of US$597.3 million. Koenig also said that the Netherlands is the second largest recipient of Dominican goods, receiving more than 50% of all goods exported to Europe. Products exported to the Netherlands include nickel, cacao, tobacco, mangos, cigars, bananas, coconuts, avocados and scrap metals.
17 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
Koenig explained the rules of origins clause is more flexible than in the DR-CAFTA agreement and this would make it easier for Dominicans to export local produce to Europe. According to Koenig, exports to the EU total 29.3% of the DR's total exports for a total of US$661.9 million. In comparison the DR exports 26.4% to the US for a total value of US$597.3 million. Koenig also said that the Netherlands is the second largest recipient of Dominican goods, receiving more than 50% of all goods exported to Europe. Products exported to the Netherlands include nickel, cacao, tobacco, mangos, cigars, bananas, coconuts, avocados and scrap metals.
17 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
The European Union and countries of the Caribbean region have signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which will strengthen ties between the two regions and promote regional integration in the Caribbean. The EPA is the first genuinely comprehensive North-South trade and development agreement in the global economy. It includes a package of measures to stimulate trade, investment and innovation, and to promote sustainable development, build a regional market among Caribbean countries and help eliminate poverty.
17 October 2008 - The European Commission
17 October 2008 - The European Commission
EPA signed
The DR and 12 other Caribbean island states signed the European Partnership Agreement with the European Union in Bridgetown, Barbados yesterday. Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso and Industry & Commerce Minister Jose Ramon Fadul had traveled to Barbados for the signing.
Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) Director General Henry Gill, who handled the trade agreement negotiations on behalf of the Caribbean, said the signing marks economic maturity in the Caribbean, as reported in Listin Diario. Host Barbados, together with Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Dominican Republic signed. Only Haiti and Guyana, the other two members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) did not sign.
The EPA will allow Caribbean goods to enter the European Union duty-free and quota-free come 1 January 2008, while there is a phased period between three to 25 years for European goods to enter CARIFORUM markets duty-free as well as an important number of exclusions for sensitive products.
Development co-operation will be an integral part of the EPA to ensure that the Caribbean states are able to adjust to the new challenges and to maximize the benefits from the opportunities offered by this agreement. The European Union Aid for Trade strategy and co- operation under the Cotonou Agreement offer many opportunities to develop programs in support of the implementation of this agreement. Special programs have also been put in place for sugar, bananas, rice and rum with a view to help Caribbean states become more competitive and diversify their economies.
It was the first time that Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic, negotiated as single group a forward-looking free trade area with a large group of developed countries. In addition to setting new rules for trade with Europe, the agreement opens doors for increased inter-Caribbean trade.
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/acp/epa151008_en.htm
16 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) Director General Henry Gill, who handled the trade agreement negotiations on behalf of the Caribbean, said the signing marks economic maturity in the Caribbean, as reported in Listin Diario. Host Barbados, together with Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Dominican Republic signed. Only Haiti and Guyana, the other two members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) did not sign.
The EPA will allow Caribbean goods to enter the European Union duty-free and quota-free come 1 January 2008, while there is a phased period between three to 25 years for European goods to enter CARIFORUM markets duty-free as well as an important number of exclusions for sensitive products.
Development co-operation will be an integral part of the EPA to ensure that the Caribbean states are able to adjust to the new challenges and to maximize the benefits from the opportunities offered by this agreement. The European Union Aid for Trade strategy and co- operation under the Cotonou Agreement offer many opportunities to develop programs in support of the implementation of this agreement. Special programs have also been put in place for sugar, bananas, rice and rum with a view to help Caribbean states become more competitive and diversify their economies.
It was the first time that Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic, negotiated as single group a forward-looking free trade area with a large group of developed countries. In addition to setting new rules for trade with Europe, the agreement opens doors for increased inter-Caribbean trade.
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/acp/epa151008_en.htm
16 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
15 October 2008 - The Nation News
Our Caribbean: EPA – sealed and ready for business
IT IS A done deal. The Caribbean's full Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) that has been negotiated over a period of four years and eight months, was sealed with the signatures of participating states on Wednesday, amid lingering controversies and reservations.
Its 250 Articles, covering 2 000 pages, are now ready for the challenging tasks of implementation.
All of the 13 CARIFORUM countries (CARICOM and Dominican Republic) that had agreed last month to sign the EPA text with representatives of the EU did so on Wednesday at Sherbourne Conference Centre.
Our Caribbean: EPA – sealed and ready for business
IT IS A done deal. The Caribbean's full Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) that has been negotiated over a period of four years and eight months, was sealed with the signatures of participating states on Wednesday, amid lingering controversies and reservations.
Its 250 Articles, covering 2 000 pages, are now ready for the challenging tasks of implementation.
All of the 13 CARIFORUM countries (CARICOM and Dominican Republic) that had agreed last month to sign the EPA text with representatives of the EU did so on Wednesday at Sherbourne Conference Centre.
EPA signing in Barbados
Foreign Relations Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso announced the signing of the European Partnership Agreement with the European Union today at the Sherbourne Conference Centre in Bridgetown, Barbados. He stressed that the agreement would enhance the DR's relationship with 27 countries in the European Union and 15 Cariforum countries (Caribbean Community and the Dominican Republic). Morales highlighted the fact that it would have a positive effect on cacao, sugar, tobacco and free zone manufacturing exports. Once signed in Barbados, the agreement requires Congressional approval. Morales Troncoso is traveling to Barbados with a delegation that also includes the Minister of Industry and Commerce, the government department in charge of administering the agreement. In addition to the DR, 13 other Caribbean countries are scheduled to sign the European Partnership Agreement today. Haiti will reportedly be the only country not to sign. The agreement reciprocates free trade agreement on almost all products with Europe. Previously, free trade was one-way, from the Caribbean to Europe.
See: www.jamaicaobserver.com
16 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News
See: www.jamaicaobserver.com
16 October 2008 - DR1 Daily News