During its annual commemorative luncheon attended by President Danilo Medina yesterday, Thursday 30 October 2014, the Dominican Republic Industries Association recognized the contributions to industry made by businessman Jose Leon and the National Competitiveness Council (CNC). AIRD president Ligia Bonetti presented the award to Leon for his attributes as a “captain of industry and a person with exceptional human qualities.” Executive director Andres van der Horst received the award on behalf of the CNC.
In her introductory address, Bonetti expressed support for government policies aimed at creating conditions for individuals to develop their productive capacities. She also highlighted that AIRD members are not so nearsighted as to forget that their companies will only be sustainable in time if the country’s economic and social environment is business-friendly, people consistently increase their purchasing power, education levels and social protection benefits to experience higher levels of welfare. To think otherwise is suicide, she added.
The AIRD president stressed that the manufacturing sector wants to find harmonized solutions with the government and other stakeholders such as academia, unions and civil society institutions.
The keynote speaker during the event, Jose Vitienes, called for reforms needed to make manufacturing more competitive. “Reforms are needed to turn the Dominican economy into an export-driven economy with outward growth and high value-added activities that lead to the creation of formal well-paid jobs with benefits for living, health, family and education,” he said. He added that businesspeople are willing to go hand and hand with the government in the timely measures. “We will dance the beat that is played. The son that the authorities play and it is with them that we have to tune the melodies and the music programs in frank discussions,” he commented.
He expressed optimism that the DR can do better, but said that the country was failing when it comes to competitiveness. He commented that using the GDP as indicator, Taiwan and Ireland have multiplied their growth by 53 and 33 times, while the DR has taken 44 years to multiply its growth five-fold.
The prominent businessman warned that if the optimal conditions are not created for growth, manufacturing will disappear as a consequence of the cheaper imports and the burden carried by industries of inefficient government.
He sees the future in outward growth and seeking global markets. Vitienes commented that electricity, cargo transport and fuel are the three fundamental areas that must be tackled to improve the competitiveness of local industries.
http://www.portalindustrial.net/index.php/novedades/declaraciones-de-prensa/415-palabras-de-ligia-bonetti-durante-el-almuerzo-anual-aniversario-2014
http://www.listindiario.com/economia-and-negocios/2014/10/30/343479/Pide-fortalecer-industrias