Vice President Raquel Peña attended the presentation of the master strategic plan implemented by the Dominican Port Authority. The plan calls for transforming Dominican ports. It encompasses the financial recovery of the Port Authority and the modernization of ports nationwide.
During the presentation, Peña announced the development of the National Plan for the Construction and Rehabilitation of Fishing Docks to dignify the life of fishermen in the country. She said that 17 fishing docks will be readapted and built, starting with the dock in Boca Chica. This national plan will positively impact more than 15,000 fishermen, another 75,000 people that depend on these and close to 500,000 indirectly.
In addition, three more docks have already been awarded to start the Palenque docks in San Cristóbal, Salinas in Peravia, and Luperón in Puerto Plata. Works in favor of the fishermen contemplated for Puerto Plata, Sanchez and Samana ports call for a RD$93 million investment.
Vice President Peña presides and coordinates the Investment and Innovation Cabinet of the Abinader administration. She also highlighted the progress made in Dominican ports towards positioning the country as a regional logistic and cruise ship hub in the Caribbean.
The Port Authority’s executive director, Jean Luis Rodríguez highlighted the investments in ports such as the Haina River, San Pedro de Macorís and Barahona.
Likewise, he mentioned major investments in the DP World Caucedo, the Puerto Plata Port and Manzanillo. He said the new expansions are creating more than 10,000 new jobs and contributing to an increase in exports and imports.
Rodríguez spoke of the cruise ship terminals in the ports of Amber Cove and Taino Bay in Puerto Plata on the north coast; La Romana I the south east coast and Sans Souci in Santo Domingo. He said some 398 ships with nearly half a million passengers have arrived at these ports since their reopening post-pandemic.
He spoke of the potential of the port in Arroyo Barril, Samana. He also spoke of the expected growth as Barahona, Pedernales and Taino Bay (Puerto Plata city) ports develop as home ports for cruise ship passengers.
Regarding technological innovation, he explained that with the support of the UNDP they have acquired more than 300 modern, high-capacity computers.
Likewise, he explained that in the next few months the Port Authority would present the first port operations management software designed by the Las Americas Technology Institute (ITLA). The software allows the Port Authority to monitor port cargo in real-time, marking a before and after in port operations and management.
Rodríguez said he has turned a deficit of RD$1.5 billion received in August 2020 at the change of government to a positive balance of RD$255 million. He says the Port Authority now has more revenues than expenses.
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CDN
9 February 2022