Speaking at the opening of the Dominican Cigar Fest-Tamboril 2022, the first cigar festival in the Dominican Republic, last Friday, President Luis Abinader stressed that the Dominican economy continues to grow and strengthen, with the creation of jobs in the various productive sectors.
He highlighted the role of the tobacco companies in Tamboril, which he defined as thriving and optimistic.
He also announced the construction of a free zone for small, medium and large companies with a public-private initiative to create jobs and continue to develop the economy of Tamboril.
“That’s employment and jobs for women in more than 90 small, medium and large cigar companies in Tamboril and the entire province of Santiago, which is why Tamboril has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Dominican Republic.”
He added that this sector, along with the free zones, is the economic driving force of Santiago.
By 2021, the tobacco industry registered over 16,625 acres sown, with revenue worth US$ 1,300 million in foreign exchange and 150,000 direct jobs.
The President said that the increase in national exports seen in various products and the constant support to the productive sectors allow the country to have its largest reserve in the Central Bank, strengthening the Dominican peso and mitigating inflation.
The Dominican Cigar Fest was held from June 3 to 5 and is aimed at having Tamboril recognized as the cigar capital of the world.
The President also took part in the inauguration of the Cigar Monument.
Industry representatives are hoping to set the world record for the largest fumata with 3,466 people walking and smoking at the same time.
He began the reconstruction of museums and named a street in honor of his father, Don Rafael Abinader.
The head of state led the event where he began the construction work of the Horacio Vásquez Museum and Cultural Center and the Cigar Museum, as well as the Culture Center in Tamboril.
The President detailed former President Vasquez’s outstanding characteristics and said it makes no sense that the home of a former head of state was in that state.
The renovations will be carried out through the Banreservas foundation and contributions from the Presidency while engineer Manuel Estrella has been asked to help with the design.
“This center will serve to highlight his qualities and that Dominicans also feel proud, so that they know what has been done,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tamboril Town Hall issued Resolution 082021, naming the town’s main street in honor of José Rafael Abinader, President Abinader’s father, for having been a tireless fighter for this community where he was born and lived.
On behalf of his family, President Abinader expressed gratitude for the distinction they will always carry in their hearts, where he recalled that his father came to the area where he himself was born, without distinction of party or prejudice.
Don Rafael Abinader was born in Tamboril on March 2, 1929. He was a Dominican politician, lawyer, writer, and businessman.
Gregory Lopéz, alderman and president of the Chapter House read the resolution that converted Calle Real to Calle Tomás Hernández Franco to Dr. José Rafael Abinader Street.
CISAMA educational system
The President also visited the Santa María Center where he learned about the CISAMA educational system being implemented at this Catholic community educational center with the aim of raising the quality of education in the public sector.
This is in answer to the fact that 78% of Dominican students belong to the public system.
Currently, the center has 1,519 enrolled students. Classes range from infant, primary, secondary to technical studies, with students graduating in nursing, accounting and technology and plans to graduate technicians in mathematics, science, and art.
The education provided is based on six core ideas: community, spiritual, education, volunteering, self-sustaining and health.
President Abinader was accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje; the president of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella; Ministers of Culture, Milagros Germán; of Public Works, Deligne Ascension; deputy ministers, Administrative of the Presidency, Igor Rodríguez; of Protected Areas, Federico Franco and the General Manager of Edenorte, Andrés Cueto, among others.
Source:
El Caribe
