Exportación

meet the challenge of exporting with quality
and in a sustainable manner. This closeness
allowed us to confirm, once again, the quality
of Dominican products and their enormous
potential for entering international markets.
Clearly, it became imperative to create a stage
of the scale of DR Exports, so our producers
would have an opportunity to make new contacts
and business.
What expectations has CEI-RD generated
with the celebration of this event?
We are confident that DR Exports will be
a success and will mark a turning point in the
history of the Dominican exports sector. Not
only will it group together in one place all
the export opportunities of the country, but
will also be the meeting point of hundreds of
international buyers, as the main attraction
of DR Exports are the business rounds previously
coordinated by CEI-RD, according to
the specific interests of the participants. With
such meetings, we hope to achieve the establishment
of sustainable business linkages that
significantly increases exports and the ongoing
efforts to diversify our target markets.
What has been the performance of exports
in recent years?
Statistics show that during the 2012 -
2015 period total exports increased by 6.6%,
from US$ 8,935.5 million in 2012 to US$
9,523.3 in 2015. This increase is visible both
in the free trade zone industry and the domestic
industry. For the agricultural sector,
by 2015 it experienced an increase of 4.4%
compared to the total exports in 2012.
These increases took place despite the
obstacles presented last year with the ban
of products into the United States and Haiti,
our two most important markets, and the
severe drought that hit our cropland for 20
months, among other adversities. This is evidence
of the strength of the sector and the
success of the strategies implemented by
the current government.
In addition, the diversification of the
portfolio of export products in these 4
years of government is evident; precisely
one of the goals promoted through CEI-RD.
In 2015 more than 3,780 product lines were
exported, which include traditional products
República
Dominicana
también es
un destino
estratégico para
la inversión.
Dominican
Republic is
also a strategic
destination for
investment.
as well as new items that have positioned
themselves in the world rankings. This is the
case for organic bananas in Europe, peppers
and coconut in North America, pineapples in
Israel, and steel rods and gray cement in the
Caribbean and South America.
What products and market trends can be
seen in this fair?
At the event producers and buyers will
discover the new trends in international trade,
including matters regarding regulations, logistics,
quality management, financial instruments,
and much more. The public will have
the opportunity to see first-hand the wide
range of products and high quality services
that are offered by the Dominican Republic,
within the main sectors presented at the fair.
In terms of markets, the fair will bring together
the leading importers of more than 35
countries, with special presence of the Caribbean,
European, and Latin American markets,
without leaving our traditional partners aside.
How can the trade balance in favor of the
Dominican Republic be improved?
By continuing efforts to support the
export sector. That is why the Dominican
government, through CEI-RD, implements
strategies oriented to promoting exports,
like organizing DR Exports.
Moreover, since October 2015, representatives
of the public and private sectors have been
meeting with the aim of identifying the obstacles
our products encounter in international markets
and recommend solutions to improve our access
and expand our export destinations. As a result
of these work meetings, a grid has been created
so far containing the main challenges found, each
one complemented with a set of concrete actions
to be executed in the short and medium-term.
The implementation of these proposals, which
will be published in the future, will positively impact
our trade balance.
Toward which export destinations is Dominican
Republic opening to?
Traditional markets like the United
States, Haiti, Canada and the European
Union are greatly important to our export
sector, so maintaining and increasing our
presence in them is always a priority. However,
you can’t put all your eggs in them to showcase their products, and
one basket, therefore thanks to the if they can not attend the event, we
strategy implemented by the Government,
other countries have joined Similarly, we prepare trade missions
take and show the goods ourselves.
our list of buyers. Thus, in 2006 our and business events in which meetings
between international buyers and
top 20 buyers concentrated 96% of
our exports to the world, while by Dominican exporters are arranged.
2015 this percentage decreased to From August 2012 to December 2015,
85% of total exports.
CEI-RD has participated in 64 promotional
activities in which negotiations
But diversification is not just
about gaining access to new markets,
but also about increasing our were implemented.
amounting to US$ 914 million dollars
participation in others where we Recently, CEI-RD has signed several
agreements with institutions such
were not exploiting our full potential.
An example of this are exports as the Dominican Agribusiness Board
to Cuba, which increased more than (JAD), the National Supermarket Association
(NSA) and MERCADOM to
63% in 2015, compared with 2014.
Caribbean destinations represent a boost exports. We are also celebrating
the second edition of the confer-
great opportunity and an essential
part of the diversification strategy ence “How to Export”, a series of free
implemented by CEI-RD.
training seminars in which we present
everything you need to know about
What recent initiatives has CEI-RD exporting to each destination country.
developed to strengthen the development
of exports?
What are the main challenges the
In addition to DR Exports, CEI-RD export sector faces?
supports exporters through technical One of the main challenges is to
and promotional assistance. We organize
development and implemenble
of maintaining the high standards
expand the number of exports capatation
of quality management programs,
consistent with national and ternational markets. Globalization of
of safety and quality required by in-
international standards so SMEs and trade relations and the signing and
their products can be certified and approval of international treaties and
given access to increasingly demanding
markets. Likewise, we also partic-
that sanitary and phytosanitary mea-
trade agreements, make it essential
ipate in the most important local and sures be taken within a framework of
international export fairs for which good agricultural practices and management,
to facilitate the access we advise producers and accompany
of
6.6% 914
OF GROWTH
MILLION DOLLARS
experienced Dominican
in completed negotiations
exports in the 2012-2015
were reached through 64 promotional
activities by CEI-RD,
period.
between 2012 and 2015.
products into the different markets.
Aware of this, through CEI-RD we are
working hard to make improvements
concerning this aspect, assisting our
producers on issues related to quality
management, with results and
cases of great success.
What message do you offer to
potential exporters of the country
and potential international buyers?
We have shown that we can compete
in international markets and that we have
quality products that are highly valued
abroad, but we can aim for much more.
Therefore, I urge our exporters, first, to
come to the CEI-RD, where we will offer,
free of charge, consultancy, support and
technical assistance, and second, to participate
in the DR Exports fair to explore
the new opportunities which this transcendental
event will offer.
To potential buyers, I invite you to
visit us and to get to know the great
advantages of our country: preferential
geographical location; ideal
climate for agricultural production;
continuous improvement in customs
processes; cutting-edge telecommunications
and transport infrastructure;
export incentives and preferential access
to 900 million consumers through
the trade agreements we have signed.
All of these favorable conditions make
Dominican Republic not only an exporter
of quality products, but also a
strategic destination for investment.
We look forward to your visit!
63%
OF GROWTH
reached Dominican exports
to Cuba in 2015 compared
to 2014.
42 CEI-RD | GUÍA DE EXPORTACIÓN
CEI-RD | EXPORT GUIDE 43