The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), Víctor (Ito) Bisonó, yesterday expressed his wish that the Dominican State could take advantage of Law 171-01 on Special Incentives for Pensioners and Annuitants from foreign sources.
This piece of legislation, enacted in 2007, establishes that pensioners and annuitants not residing in the Dominican Republic, within the framework of the requirements set forth, may benefit from the exemption of customs duties, and imports of personal and household effects.
Also, the exoneration of used professional and professional equipment, as well as personal goods. This will be allowed as long as they come to reside definitively in the country. In addition to the requirements and formalities demanded by the General Directorate of Customs, pensioners and annuitants must include in their application a copy of their Permanent Residence Card.
ECONOMIC VISION
“Something that differentiates us from other countries is that here when you approach someone they still respond with a smile and if you are in the interior of the country when you pass by their house they invite you for coffee,” Bisonó reflected.
Considering Bisonó that the main asset of the Dominican population is charisma, he understands that the Government must implement the measures available in the Constitution to benefit foreigners and tourism in the country.
“We have a law of foreign source tourist pensioners that in Costa Rica leaves USD$3,000 million a year and we still do not exploit it”, he highlighted.
The official made reference to the case of inhabitants of Russia and Ukraine since labor retirees do not tolerate extreme cold, preferring to stay in warm countries with beaches as found in the Dominican coasts.
“Before the war, we had a presence of almost 400,000 Ukrainians and Russians, because in those countries when the cold presses those who are over 60 or 70 years old do not tolerate it because of bone pain,” he said.
Bisonó pointed out that elderly people coming from other countries, after their working age and who have a salary above 2,500, can opt for these initiatives of the State.
“They do not have to pay tax if they buy a house, they can bring their move, Real Estate Patrimony Tax (IPI) or transfer and they are exempt from all kinds of taxes. Imagine if these people come and stay here, the amount of people who can cook for them, manage them…”, said the incumbent.
In addition, he pointed to the new tourist areas that have been highlighted in recent years, such as medical tourism and “senior citizens”.
“The elderly, who come to retire to be attended and medical tourism because here is where women come to have plastic surgeries,” said Bisonó.
These statements by the head of the MICM, Victor (Ito) Bisonó, were made during a meeting with business sectors and youth associations held in a restaurant, to exchange views on the “Socio-Economic and International Outlook for the Immediate Future”.
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