The National Business Council (CONEP) is calling on President Danilo Medina to watch for the business climate and international image of the country. As reported in acento.com.do, Conep president Manuel Diez Cabral issued a statement calling for actions with a long-term vision, subject to the rule of the law and sustainable rules that promote national development. He was referring to Medina’s ultimatum on Wednesday, 27 February to Barrick Gold to renegotiate the gold mining contract or the government would levy new taxes on unexpected earnings of mining exports.
“We need to be careful about sending signals that harm the business climate and avoid actions that affect our international image,” he said. He said that the country has borrowed on international capital markets and any action that increases the country risk will result in higher financial costs for the Dominican economy.
He called on the government to give priority to signing the pacts for educational, electricity and fiscal reform established in Law 1-12 on the National Development Strategy. He mentioned that the deadline for the electricity and education pacts was 26 January 2013.
He also called on the government to present the complete report on public finances, especially the calculation of the fiscal deficit, which the government used to justify the tax increase covered by Law 253-12.
Diez requested more information on how the coal-fired plants announced by the President would be financed. He also asked the government to set out the country’s position with the International Monetary Fund.
He urged for the presentation of the National Citizen Security Plan, announced for mid-March by President Medina on Wednesday, 27 February and for strengthening anti-corruption initiatives, and that the law should be applied equally for all and for consequences to be imposed when it is violated.
Diez praised the government’s education initiatives, especially the National Literacy Plan and the extended school day, and called for more work to be done on technical-professional training.
In the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, the Dominican Republic is ranked above average, or 52 of 144 countries in Strength of Investor Protection. At the same time it is ranked 106th in the world in irregular payments and bribes.
www.acento.com.do/index.php/news/52823/56/CONEP-pide-a-Danilo-cuidar-clima-de-negocios-e-imagen-internacional.html