The executive vice president of the American Chamber of Commerce, William Malamud, urged The President to issue the decree that would provide the legal framework to the efforts to make the Dominican Republic a logistics hub for the region. Malamud called for the passing of a new Customs Bill to facilitate the creation of this hub during a speech at a breakfast meeting entitled Trade Facilitation: the DR as the Regional Logistics Center.
Malamud to the meeting attendees, who included government officials and business representatives, that in the present legislation there is an ad valorem tax on transport that would need to be eliminated for the logistics center to work effectively.
The American Chamber of Commerce has been very supportive of efforts of the Puerto Multimodal Caucedo to convert the port area into the leading Caribbean Logistics Center. “We are investing over US$100 million to expand the port’s warehousing capacity, modernize equipment and improve port infrastructure,” said Carlos Flaquer, manager of the Logistics Center of the Caucedo Multimodal Port.
Malamud has argued that if the objective of the regional logistics center is achieved, there will be a reduction in transport costs due to an increase in volume. Likewise, national exporters and free zones will become more competitive in international markets, attracting more work orders and expanding business opportunities.
The meeting produced a lively discussion of the effects of ground transportation monopolies on expanding trading opportunities for Dominican businesses. The current form and function of ground transportation in the country represents a constraint to growth in the business sector. Business spokesmen for years have accused the government of bowing to the pressure of the Fenatrado trucking consortium and not actively seeking more cost-efficient and effective ground transportation policies.
In his remarks, Jose Nestor Gonzalez, President of the Facilities Committee of the AmChamDR, warned that there is not a lot of time to take action to improve the country’s international trade competitiveness. He noted other countries in the region are moving aggressively to take advantage of an expanding global trade network.
http://www.diariolibre.com/economia/2015/07/10/i1233081_amchamdr-pide-emita-decreto-para-centro-logstico.html
http://acento.com.do/2015/economia/8265551-camara-americana-critica-discrecionalidad-de-aduanas/