Despite various external factors impacting the Dominican economy, the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, stated that the macroeconomic outlook projects a real GDP growth of 4.5%.
Paliza affirmed that, despite external influences, the macroeconomic scenario indicates a 4.5% growth in real GDP and an average inflation of 4%.
Economist José Eduardo López supported this argument, highlighting how the rapid development of the tourism sector, considered the main pillar of the Western economy, makes this growth inevitable. He also emphasized the significant improvement in other sectors such as agriculture, where stakeholders actively engage in buying and selling fish.
“Many rural people have wanted to implement fish purchasing to manage the sale themselves, for example, taking care of the fish and selling them after a certain period. This wasn’t common before; traditionally, it was mainly rice and plantain farmers, but diversification has occurred thanks to proposals made,” López explained.
Thanks to citizens’ interest in increasing earnings and managing their expenses more effectively, López said that methods of income generation are diversifying, working alongside financial institutions, resulting in an improved Dominican economy.
Economist Irielka Fabián added that the Central Bank’s expansionary monetary policy increases the money supply in the economy and stimulates growth, especially for small, medium, and large enterprises through financial credit, benefiting the entire population.
“President Luis Abinader and Héctor Albizu (Director of the Central Bank) have announced that the economy will grow because the money is being distributed across all sectors—small, medium, and large businesses—through this expansionary policy,” Fabián explained.
Additionally, Heiromy Castro, Vice President of Compliance at Banco de Reservas, highlighted how the increase in interest rates plays a crucial role, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimating the dynamism it will bring to the Dominican economy.
“What drives economic growth is the expansion and dynamism of the sectors that make up the GDP; that’s why we expect a 3.5% growth—not as high as our average of 5%—but still very good relative to the area, especially given that this year has seen very high interest rates,” he stated.
These statements were made during the Third Congress Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, organized by Banco de Reservas.
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