The president of the Asociación de Industrias de la República Dominicana, Celso Marranzini, says that the 5.7% decline in manufacturing outside of the industrial free zones reported last week by the Central Bank reflects the difficulties industry encounters in this country where government policies favor imports and commercial activities, rather than production and exports. He says the AIRD has called for a national program to create a modern, diversified and an expanded national production base and development strategy.
He said that industries have been one of the sectors most affected by the electricity crisis. He also attributed the decline to the way the government is applying the Codigo Tributario, or tax code. He stated the government has applied the latter only when it has been convenient to their tax collection purposes, and not applying the inflation compensation mechanism contained within the law. He also said that the foreign investment law that was passed over six months ago has had no effect because its rules of application have not been drawn up.