In his 27 of February state of the nation address, President Luis Abinader highlighted the accomplishment of having led the nation through the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war and the present challenges. He used the speech to recap the economic, political and social issues undertaken in his first four years in government which will end on 16 August 2024.
President Abinader is seeking a second term. In his rendition of accounts speech, he summarized the accomplishments and plans for the government this 2024.
President Abinader said his goal when starting the presidency in August 2020 was to leave a better country when he finished his term. “And today, I can affirm that the Dominican Republic is not the same as it was four years ago. Change is an irreversible reality.
“In comparative terms, we can highlight that in 2020 the Gross Domestic Product of the Dominican Republic was US$78.92 billion. In 2023, it is estimated that it reached US$120.63 billion. We have gone from a per capita income of US$8,583 in 2019 to US$11,156 in 2023, which represents an increase of 30%. During these years we have become the seventh economy in the region, surpassing Ecuador and consolidating our rising position,” said the President.
The President, who has made himself more available to the press than previous heads of state, mentioned much of the data that is well known on how the country has dealt with imported inflation and set itself as a regional success story with relatively high levels of international reserves, tourist arrivals, high export zone manufacturing levels and foreign investment.
The President said that international organizations and rating agencies confirm the positive economic statistics for the country and the outlook for the future. He mentioned high ratings from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Tourism Organization, World Economic Forum, Standard and Poor, and the Chapultepec Index of freedom of press and expression.
President Abinader also spoke of the massive government investments in public works. He said RD$40 billion were invested in infrastructure in 2023 and the government has underway 278 public works for RD$80 billion.
Former President Leonel Fernandez of the People’s Force urged the President to talk less and do more. Fernandez is a three-term President who is seeking a fourth term in the 2024 presidential election.
Spokespersons for the opposition Dominican Liberation Party criticized the speech saying it was fiction.
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El Caribe
28 February 2024