Dominican industrialists seek competitiveness alternatives in Free Trade

http://www.dominicantoday.com 04/08/06

SANTO DOMINGO.- With the country’s imminent entry into the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Central America, the Dominican industrial sector has focused on identifying competitiveness strategies and not be left out of the global competition.

The Government wants the country to enter the DR-CAFTA before December this year, something the business sector does not doubt, despite warnings that obstacles which affect competitiveness still remain.

Dominican Industries Association president Yandra Portela stated what she admits and has often repeated -but which she must continue mentioning- that the power crisis is the productive sector’s main obstacle. She said that in any case the business sector is preparing to compete when the Government and the American authorities agree on when the treaty will take effect.

The industrialists, along with the Government’s main economic area officials, met yesterday and today will continue analyzing an agenda called "Building a Culture of Competitiveness for Export,” aimed at creating a small multi-sectorial group where the public and private sectors can identify joint plans to develop such a culture.

The directors of the National Business Council, the export sector and industrialists will conclude a workshop today which began yesterday in the Hotel Santo Domingo, together with the heads of Internal Taxes, Customs, the Presidency’s Technical Secretariat, the Competitiveness Council and the National Planning Office.