José León, president of the E. León Jimenes firm that manufactures Presidente Beer and Marlboro cigarettes in the DR, presented his formula for the nation’s development yesterday at a luncheon hosted by the Fundación Institutionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS). He also offered his services and encouraged other businessmen to get involved in politics and contribute their life experiences to end the problems that have traditionally frustrated the aspirations and expectations of the Dominican people. In his opinion the present economic miracle has been based on 1) the boom in free zone industries, 2) boom in telecommunications and the tourism industry; 3) solidarity of Dominican migrants with friends and relatives in the DR (an estimated US$1,500 million a year is sent back home). He said that these sectors have not been enough to bring about true sustained development and generate welfare for all, and that there is still an unfair distribution of wealth. Today, he says, despite the DR being the fastest growing economy in the world (estimated 7% GDP growth for this year), 20% of Dominicans live in utmost poverty. He warned that because textile parity with Mexico has not been achieved, local free zones industries are losing their competitive edge. Likewise he says that the growth of tourism has decelerated, as it is an industry that depends on increasing investments in infrastructure, public services, and conservation of the environment. León proposes: 1) That ways be found to strengthen the nation’s manufacturing sector in general, through programs that promote an increase in productivity that may make us more competitive. He highlighted the fragility of the national industry when only one company provides 10% of the national industrial business taxes (León presides over that company). 2) That more funding be allotted to tourism promotion. That funds be allotted to end the surging of slum areas around tourism enclaves. And that there be a continuous strengthening of national security programs. 3) Create investment programs to channel the remittances of Dominicans living abroad into productive projects. He said that the millions have traditionally been spent just on consumer goods. In his opinion, in the long term, the DR cannot base its socioeconomic model on tourism, free zone industries and remittances from Dominicans living abroad, as these models are dependent on changes abroad that we cannot control. León also mentioned the growing illegal migration pressures (Haitian indigent migration) that will not decrease and that need to be attended to by international organizations so as not to further affect the social services infrastructure of the country. He urges that farming be developed so that it can contribute to reduce the number of rural community residents that are immigrating to the cities seeking employment, and creating large slum areas. León advocates for an increase in the national budget dedicated to education. He said that dedicating 2.4% of the Gross Domestic Product to education is nowhere sufficient. He called for a new economic model that provides for more jobs, an increase in national competitiveness, more tax-paying companies and individuals, and an increase in the investment in the education of the future generation of Dominicans that will have to find jobs in an economy of global markets. He also advocated the transparent use of state resources with the implementation of systems that minimize the possibility of corruption and propitiate an every day more rational use of government funds.
