The executive director of the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana) reported that the country’s total exports for the 2022-2023 period added up to US$ 45,804.3 million, equal to a 25% growth compared to a similar pre-pandemic three-year period, 2016-2019.
In a press release, ProDominicana indicated that this performance is due to the fact that in 2021 and 2022 significant export values were reached, with growth rates of 18% and 6% respectively, plus the fact that 2023 is the second-best export year in terms of value.
These results were presented at the ‘II Meeting of Leaders to Follow-up on the National Export Promotion Plan (PNFE) 2020-2030”, together with representatives of more than 45 public and private institutions in the sector.
The report also indicates that currently, of the 278 measures contained in the PNFE to be fulfilled in the 2020-2030 period, 25.6% have already been completed and 48.4% are currently underway, so 75% of the measures contained in this plan have had an effect in the period from November to December 2023.
As a result, they see the acceleration of export activity reflected in quantity, quality, diversification, consistency, and a culture of internationalization.
At the event, where the private sector shared the points of greatest need in each of the five pillars of the Plan more than 40 public policy actions were prioritized for the current year, 2024.
The following stand out among the main achievements:
- Technological market intelligence tools.
- Updating the General Customs Law.
- Implementing the Trade Promotion Plan.
- Lifting the ban on Dominican products on international markets.
- Moving to non-face-to-face channels to provide services.
- Management of slaughterhouse inspection and certification standards on a par with US standards, customs services available 24/7.
- Consolidating the One Stop Investment Window within the Zero Bureaucracy Program.
- Promoting exports of services, having strengthened e-learning platforms, among others.
Biviana Riviero Disla, executive director of ProDominicana, emphasized that part of the aims of this expanded space are:
- Prioritize 2024 initiatives.
- Listen to sectoral needs.
- See the trends and increases in demand due to economic growth and tourism in both the agricultural and industrial sectors.
- Evaluate economic forecasts and trends to continue the country’s preparation process, in turn increasing the competitiveness of the different sectors of both the free zones and MSMEs and the national industry.
- Analyze the different areas within mining, the service sector, agricultural and agro-industrial goods, as well as the manufacturing industry.
More than 55 leaders of related public and private entities were present at this activity, including Pavel Isa, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of exports for the Dominican economy,” said the official, reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to aligning the Plan with the various short, medium and long-term Government Plans.
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