Santo Domingo, RD.
The Dominican manufacturing industry reached 6.5% growth in February of this year, compared to last year when no pandemic had yet entered, according to Central Bank indicators.
The data was released by President Luis Abinader, at the conclusion of the second meeting of the Industrialization Table, in the Green Hall of the National Palace, With full enrollment of its members, as part of National Industry Day.
“The local manufacturing industry surpassed its best figures of 2020, Given the effects of Covid-19 on the Dominican economy, achieving 6.5 percent growth in February this year, compared to the same date last year, when it had not yet affected the pandemic. ” , he detailed.
He stressed that to this is added the 100% of 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 that is exhibiting record export figures in excess of $ 3,165,000 in this slip, surpassing by almost US $ 200 million in the previous periods.
Generating jobs
Luis Abinader reported that from August 2020 to April 2021 about 45 companies have been approved, Which generate about 6,597 jobs, with an investment of RD $ 7,596,000 and with foreign exchange earnings of more than UD $ 120 million.
“It’s really a big growth in employment, which is basically the goal of this government’s economic policy. You know that the main goal of this Government every day is to create jobs, Occupations and jobs, at the same time we take care of health, “said Luis Abinader.
He advanced that in a month they meet again, To address the issues that allow this growth of employment to continue and to solve any issue, on the one hand the public sector and on the other the private sector, working hand in hand to get the industry back to the seat that needs for the economic development of country.
He reported that next Friday will open two new free zone companies in Sant Jaume Park, among others that will be announced soon.
“Where jobs are crossed, here we will be supporting them, both with the local and free zone industries,” he assured.
The president stressed 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 has been supporting, from flexibility in the financial part or loans, and in a much more efficient permitting, with the approval of projects in a short time and we are implementing greater unity of criteria and action between government and private sector” , he added.
He added that the structures are also being improved, so that more jobs can be developed.
social programs
From last August to April of this year, the Dominican state has invested more than RD $ 100 billion in social programs, Associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the president explained.
He said that the Supera’t program will start next May, which had 500,000 more people and twice the social assistance.
“When you start Overcome in May, you will be given direct social assistance which is twice what they had precovid. This is a huge effort the government is making so that poverty does not increase disproportionately,” Abinader said.
It is recalled that in the year the Phase and Stay at Home programs were extended and in both the state delivered more than RD $ 13 billion.
Employment growth
The Minister of Industry and Trade, Víctor Ito Bisonó, detailed that 26,000 new jobs have been created, with 26 new companies and four industrial parks, apart from 13 that are going to be approved today.
“Specifically the areas that have grown in this pandemic are those of electrical, tobacco, medical and pharmaceutical products,” he added.
He detailed that electrical products have increased 56.3%, tobacco more than 35% and doctors and pharmacists 33%.
meeting
At the meeting, the confidence of the industrial sector in the actions of the Government was highlighted, to recover the economy, leading to growth projections of 5.5% this year, above the average of the countries in the region.
At the conclave, they also took stock of the action plans promoted to recover the economy and generate jobs.
Abinader indicated that the goal of this government is to create jobs and assured that for the end of the year, the government plans to close with 600,000 new jobs.
Celso Joan Marranzini, President of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (Aird) said that industrialists are pleased to work hand in hand with the Government to seek solutions to relaunch the productive sectors of domestic industry and the free zones.
Decree
The president Luis Abinader, issued the decree 588-20, with which the industrialization was declared like National Priority to harness the competitiveness and productivity of the industrial sector.
Mesa
The decree creates, in turn, an Industrialization Board made up of public and private actors is chaired by the President and coordinated by the Minister of Industry, Trade and SMEs.
pilot
Among the precedents set by this collaboration between the public and private sectors, there is that of a pilot project for the development of suppliers in the name of enhancing production chains between local industry and free zones.