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 on to a financial crisis“A financial crisis that can destabilize socially in many of our countries,” said the Dominican president during the Forum of the Tenth Third Latin American Business Meeting, held on Tuesday afternoon.
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
In his speech, Abinader also referred to the economic aspect, noting that although tourism, one of the main sources of foreign exchange in the country, was so affected by the pandemic, other sectors reacted positively.
He noted the case of exports, which in February the country reported record figures in this line.
“We are in the process of recovering tourism, we have about 300 thousand mainly American tourists, estimated to arrive this April,” the head of state said.
He added that the country already has more than 50 percent of the hotels open, “I think we will have a major economic recovery,” he pointed out.
On the predictions made by credit agencies, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and ECLAC, they point to a six percent growth this year in the Dominican Republic.
He also stressed that with social programs, such as Phase 1 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’s time, to try to get back to the level we had before the pandemic,” he meant.
The Dominican President participated in the Forum in the company of the Presidents of Spain Pedro Sánchez, of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa; the head of government of Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora and the Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa.
King Philip VI delivered the closing speech.
During this business forum, the National Health Service received an award in recognition of its good practices, which was received by its head, Dr. Santiago Hazim.