The United States Agency for International Development is sponsoring several programs to improve the competitiveness of the private sector in the Dominican Republic. Edward L. Kadunc, director of USAID in the DR, made the announcement yesterday. USAID is providing technical and financial assistance. The US firms, Chemonics International Inc., The Monitor Company, J.E. Austin & Associates and Global Consulting will be assisting Dominican businessmen in this effort. The programs will support efforts of Santiago businesses (Asociación para el Desarrollo-APEDI) to form a "cluster", as well as micro and small businesses, working with the collaboration of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, and will assist in the designing of a national competitiveness strategy.
