The UNDP 2005 Human Development Report that concludes that DR exports have stagnated over the years reinforces the position that Dominican exporters are at a competitive disadvantage. “Up to now, the leading concern of the government and the business sector has been to seek access to the US market and not to change the domestic conditions so that the country can become more competitive,” states the report prepared under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program. The report states that while access to the US markets over the past 15 years has increased, Dominican exports have declined reflecting a loss of competitiveness. During this same period, Central American exports increased.
To stimulate an increase in exports, competitiveness needs to be overall and not only based on natural resources or a cheap workforce, says that UNDP report. The report highlights that of the 20 most important non traditional exports, only five show a tendency to increase.
To download the report and its summary (in Spanish), go to http://portal.onu.org.do/interfaz/main.asp?Ag=12&did=802&CategoriaNo=13