Prior to the inauguration of the XXVII Iberoamerican Summit of Heads of State and Government, the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, indicated that the great challenge after the pandemic is to avoid a financial crisis that causes social problems.
“One issue we need to address at this summit, and then among our countries, is that from this pandemic crisis we cannot move to a financial crisis, a financial crisis that can socially destabilize many of our countries,” he said. the Dominican president during the Forum of the Tenth Third Ibero-American Business Meeting, held yesterday afternoon in Andorra.
He also told the other leaders that the countries they lead must prepare for the fact that the financial crisis caused by an increase in public debt, can lead to situations that increase taxes and this will cause a contraction in spending. , and in this sense cause social problems.
He also argued that it is necessary to have a pro-growth vision in the economy, which will also allow a greater amount of tax, as well as achieve creative financial schemes that allow compliance with the payment of debts, but without penalizing the capacity for growth and job creation.
vaccines
Abinader reiterated that the COVAX program (World Health Organization’s vaccine distribution mechanism) has been a failure. in the different laboratories, even for several countries, but this was not achieved “.
“We understand that each country wants to vaccinate its people first, but I think we lacked creativity to achieve the goals of each of the countries,” Abinader pointed out.
economic aspects
Abinader also referred to the economic aspect, noting that although tourism, one of the country’s main sources of foreign exchange, was so affected by the pandemic, other sectors reacted positively. He noted exports, which in February reported record figures in this line. “We are in the process of recovering tourism, we have about 300,000 mostly American tourists, estimated to arrive this April,” he said.
He added that the country already has more than 50% of hotels open. “I think we will have a major economic recovery,” Abinader pointed out.
He cited the predictions of credit agencies, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and ECLAC, which point to 6% growth this year in the Dominican Republic.
He also stressed that with social programs, such as Phase I and Phase II, to encourage businesses and prevent unemployment, as well as the Stay at Home program, aimed at informal traders, the government achieved that poverty will only increase 1.9%. “Our goal is in a year to try to get back to the level we had before the pandemic,” he meant.
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The ceremony.
Abinader participated in the Forum in the company of the presidents of Spain, Pedro Sánchez; Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei; Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa; head of government of Andorra, Xavier Espot Zamora, and the Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa. King Philip VI pronounced
closing speech.
Role of entrepreneurs.
Abinader acknowledged the social commitment of many employers in the DR and the world, who retained much of the staff, even though they were not working.
Attends the opening of the Summit
President Luis Abinader participated yesterday in the inauguration of the XXVII Iberoamerican Summit of Heads of State and Government held here. On this occasion it promotes a recovery agenda in the health, social, economic and environmental fields, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.
The ceremony, held in the outdoor area of the Hotel Sport Village in Soldeu, was also attended by the King of Spain, Philip VI; the President of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei; the head of government of Andorra, Xavier Espot; the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Ibero-American Secretary General, Rebeca Grynspan. Abinader then attended the dinner offered to the participants.
Work begins today with several bilateral meetings. In the afternoon, the transfer of command of the pro tempore secretary general will take place, where Guatemala will hand him over to the Dominican Republic, and later, President Abinader will be in charge of the acceptance speech in which he will announce the country plans. at the head of the Ibero – American Summit.