Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation in Santo Domingo Florence Van Houtte says that the European Union has allocated EUR11 million for small business support programs in the Dominican Republic in the next four years. Van Houtte said that the funds were being targeted at improving the quality of goods and services offered by the small business sector.
Van Houtte said that the programs would provide advisors, training and other assistance to fruit processors and beauty product clusters.
The representative added that her agency also works with the ministries of the Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture, the National Institute for Consumer Protection, the Dominican Institute for Quality as well as other entities with the aim of raising the quality and competitive level of small and medium-sized companies. The project will start this spring in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC).
According to the executive Vice President of the Industrial Association of the Dominican Republic, Circe Almanzar, one of the main challenges facing the country is the creation of a culture of clean production in her opinion neither the public nor the private sector are very amenable to this issue. The EU program will help introduce the culture of clean production that is a preventive, company-specific environmental protection initiative. It is intended to minimize waste and emissions and maximize product output.
They were speaking during a round table discussion on clean production organized by the International Finance Corporation (World Bank) and the European Union and held yesterday, Wednesday 17 February 2016.
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