Santo Domingo, RD.
The Dominican manufacturing industry achieved growth of 6.5% in February this year, compared to last year, when no pandemic had yet entered according to the Central Bank’s indicators.
The data was released by President Luis Abinader, at the end of the second meeting of the Industrialization table, in the green room of the National Palace, with the full registration of its members, as part of the National Industry Day.
“The local manufacturing industry exceeded its best figures for 2020, compared to the effects of Covid-19 in the Dominican economy, with growth of 6.5 in the month of February this year, compared to the same date last year, when the pandemic had not yet hit, ”he explained.
He stressed that he is on it 100% of the jobs recovered in the free zone, where more jobs have been created than before the pandemic.
“This is in addition to the six consecutive months of this important sector exhibiting record export figures of more than US $ 3,165 million in this time frame, nearly $ 200 million more than in previous periods.
Generate jobs
Luis Abinader reported that approximately 45 companies have been approved from August 2020 to April 2021, generating approximately 6,597 jobs, with an investment of RD $ 7,596 million and with foreign exchange revenues in excess of UD $ 120 million.
“It is really tremendous job growth, which is basically the goal of this government’s economic policy. You know that the main goal of this government is to create jobs every day, jobs and jobs, while taking care of our health at the same time, ”said Luis Abinader.
Anticipated that in a month they will meet again, to tackle the problems that enable this growth in employment and to solve every problem, the public sector on the one hand and the private sector on the other, working hand in hand to restore industry to the place it needs economic development of the country.
He reported that next Friday, it will open two new free-zone companies in the park of Santiago, among others, to be announced soon.
“Wherever jobs are created, we will provide support there, both with local industries and free zones,” he said.
The president emphasized that there are still more than 40,000 unemployed in the country due to the pandemic, which are within the Phase 1 program.
“ The government supports, from flexibility in the financial part or loans, and in a much more efficient permit, with the approval of projects in a short period of time and we are implementing a greater unity of criteria and action between the government and the private sector. sector, ‘he added.
He added that structures are also being improved so that more jobs can be developed.
Social programs
From August to April this year, the Dominican state has invested more than RD $ 100 billion in social programs, in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic, the president explained.
He expected that the Supérate program will start next May, which will have 500,000 more people and with double social assistance.
“When Supérate starts in May, they will receive direct social assistance that is double that of precovid. That is an enormous effort that the government is making to ensure that poverty does not increase disproportionately, ”said Abinader.
It is recalled that in the year the Phase and Stay at Home programs were renewed, bringing in more than RD $ 13,000 million in both the state.
Growth of jobs
The Minister of Industry and Trade, Víctor Ito Bisonó, explained this 26,000 new jobs have been created, with 26 new companies and four business parks, aside from 13 to be approved today.
“In particular, the areas that have grown in this pandemic are those of electricity, tobacco, medical and pharmaceuticals,” he added.
He explained that electrical products are up 56.3%, tobacco more than 35% and doctors and pharmacists 33%.
Meeting
The meeting highlighted the confidence of the industrial sector in the government’s actions to restore the economy, promoting growth forecasts of 5.5% this year, above the average for the countries in the region.
In the conclave, they also took stock of the action plans promoted to restore the economy and create jobs.
Abinader stated that the goal of this government is to create jobs and assured that before the end of the year the government plans to close with 600,000 new jobs.
Celso Juan Marranzini, president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD) said industrialists are pleased to work with the government to find solutions to revitalize the productive sectors of the national industry and the free sector . zones.
Decision
President Luis Abinader issued Decree 588-20, making industrialization a national priority to improve the competitiveness and productivity of the industrial sector.
Mesa
The decree in turn creates an industrialization table made up of public and private actors, chaired by the President and coordinated by the Minister of Industry, Trade and MSMEs.
Pilot
Among the precedents set by this public-private sector partnership, there is a pilot project for supplier development to strengthen production chains between local industry and free zones.