Speaking at a Dominican Republic of Industries Association breakfast meeting yesterday, Tuesday 12 August 2014, Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta reviewed the first two years of the President Danilo Medina government and told his audience that the best of the Medina administration is yet to come. Peralta, a former AIRD board member himself, is now one of President Medina’s two closest aides.
He mentioned government priorities for security and education, highlighting the start of the 911 program that has helped reduce crime and the construction of extended school day facilities all around the country.
He announced that the Social and Economic Council would convene to start discussions towards the signing of the Electricity Pact, ordered in the National Development Strategy Law.
He also announced reforming of the Proindustria Law 392-07 and Border Development Law 28-01 to encourage modernization and competitiveness of local industry, as well as government support for the creation of the Export and Development Bank. He also mentioned the simplification of sanitary registration for pharmaceutical products, personal hygiene and household products, and eliminating of the expiration date of environmental authorizations to reduce their cost.
Other government initiatives mentioned included support for small business cooperatives and associations in rural communities and small towns, with low-interest financing (FEDA program) from the government in the wake of surprise visits by the President.
He referred to government efforts to transform La Vega and turn it into a city that is attractive to international tourism. He commented on the expansion of the privately-owned Punta Cana International Airport, and new investments in shopping areas in the east as a result of the increased flow of visitors.
He mentioned major low-cost housing developments, Boca de Cachon (Independencia province), La Barquita (Santo Domingo) and Ciudad Juan Bosch.
He spoke of government support for the footwear commission that is inviting international companies to manufacture shoes at Dominican free zones.
He spoke of the ongoing work towards creating a country-brand under the Center for Export-Investment (CEI-RD).
He addressed the requests for reduction of administrative corruption, mentioning how initiatives such as a single account (Cuenta Unica) had helped modernize state finances and the Citizen Observatory for the civil society to monitor government.
He spoke of government financing for small business, mentioning how this sector had received a boost from RD$1.26 billion as of August 2012 to RD$2.46 billion as of July 2014 through the governmental Banco de Reservas.
Other highlights were the renegotiation of the Barrick Gold contract and government’s presidency of SICA, and the talks with Haiti, leading to diverse agreements. He stressed that Haiti is the DR’s second largest trading partner.
Read more in Spanish: http://informa-rse.blogspot.com/2014/08/balance-desde-el-gobierno-de-medina.html