The president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), Yandra Portela says that with an 18% unemployment rate, which, according to her is the highest in Latin America, the Dominican Republic cannot talk about reducing crime and violence. She said that only a reduction of the unemployment rate would lead to a reduction in the crime rate. The business leader spoke at the press conference that announced the signing of an agreement between the National Institute for the Training of Professional Technicians (INFOTEP) and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The program is designed to teach Japanese business practices to Dominican entrepreneurs, equipping them to compete on the world marketplace. During his comments, INFOTEP director Melanio Paredes told his guests that INFOTEP was trying to contribute to President Fernandez’s plan aimed at creating 500,000 new jobs over the next three years. As part of the exchange program, JICA will hold two seminars, the first in Santo Domingo at the Hotel Clarion (16 March) and the second in Santiago on 23 March.