With forecasts that the Dominican economy will grow 6% this year, according to projections from the Central Bank and the international organizations tracking Latin America’s growth, President Abinader wins the bet on optimism.
Although he was fed up with the pandemic, as he said publicly last week, with just over five months in power, the president could have reason to ask the Dominicans for a little more patience as the fight against COVID-19 continues.
If the country’s economy were to be questionable, the situation would be complicated for Abinader, for economic entities and for the population, who rightly hope that the plight the Dominican Republic finds itself in like other countries will soon be over.
The great advantage the Dominican ruler has is optimism, his dedication as long as he can to explain matters to the point that, he said, he works up to 4 hours, which is a lot for one’s health and personal rest with the family.
More discipline
While the recovery of the economy and jobs is fundamental at the moment, the fight against the pandemic is the main theme of his regime, as evidenced by the flexibility announced yesterday and the demand to wear a mask and avoid groups.
Similar, perhaps more stringent, measures on Thursday announced the new president of the United States, Joe Biden, who unlike his predecessor, who downplayed mouth and nose protection, ordered the restriction in all federal spaces.
What Abinader wants is that the Dominicans have a little more discipline and that the interests of the different sectors do not want to outweigh the collective interest, as with the opening of the galleras and other agglomeration companies beforehand.
Keeping a Merenguera population addicted to street and beach parties locked up for nearly a year is no easy task. However, retail sales, banking, dollar stability and currency growth are the trigger for the Central Bank.
Growth
The Central Bank’s projected 6% growth in 2021 for the DR as a result of the global recovery and the Dominican recovery would bring the economy close to where it was when the pandemic erupted about a year ago and measures were dictated . Close.
Stability
International organizations, the BC reported on Monday, have predicted that the stated GDP growth would take place “in a context of price stability and strong macroeconomic fundamentals.”
According to the monetary policy regulator, the world economy is expected to expand by 4.0% in 2021, which would mean a shorter-term recession compared to the financial crisis of 2008-2009, which followed World War II and the depression . from 1929.
The BC report “Challenges and Perspectives of the Dominican Economy” bases its predictions not only on the robustness of the Dominican economy, but also on a rapid recovery of the North American economy, which is President Biden.
The report notes that foreign direct investment in the DR will be more than $ 2,700 million by 2021, above the historical average, with remittances reaching $ 8,500 million by the end of the year. International reserves amount to $ 10,750 million, a record high.
Considering the value of remittances entering the DR, especially from the United States, the general amazement of the economic and political sectors was the suggestion of New York Consul General Eligio Jáquez, which was later dropped, to tax them.
In keeping with the economic improvement, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Víctor-Ito-Bisonó, reported that the free zones have become the most important sector for restoring jobs and creating new sources of work.
Pact against Covid
In a conversation between President Abinader and a group of citizens on Monday in an atmosphere of distance and cordiality, he explained his commitment to the country’s recovery from the pandemic and proposed a national pact that unites his government and the people.
Abinader announced that the national COVID-19 vaccination plan will include the acquisition of 20 million vaccines, 10 million of which come from the Astrazeneca company, 8 million from Pfizer and 2 million from the World Health Organization, WHO.
With the United States’ return to the WHO following its July pullout last year by order of then-President Trump, a fact that prompted the rejection of scientific entities in that country, the health organization will be in a better position to help.
Abinader anticipated in the discussion that new measures would be announced in the coming days to ease restrictions stemming from the pandemic, as Vice President Raquel Peña did yesterday, with the reduction of curfews and the opening of parks and gyms.
The Dominican president has boosted foreign policy, especially with Haiti and the United States. The first country has been proposed to address the thorny issue of migration, border security and the eradication of smuggling and drugs. With the United States, Abinader has shown his regime’s goodwill to work on key issues of concern to that country, such as the trade of undocumented immigrants, human trafficking and the eradication of drug trafficking.
Upon Biden’s arrival at the White House on Wednesday, Abinader wasted no time on Twitter to give him his congratulations and his wishes to work on the common affairs of the two countries.
His enthusiasm for his colleague Biden would take into account the American’s decision to pass an immigration bill that includes a path to citizenship for about 11 million undocumented migrants, including many Dominicans who would see their purchasing power and ability to transfer more money. Biden advocates raising the minimum wage to $ 15 an hour.
Abinader launched another silly phrase about those who believe they are powerful, saying, “I believe those of us who believe we are powerful in every position in our lives are a danger because all power is temporary.”
The Dominican president seems determined to make good use of his momentum before he could cut back the popular support he enjoys, without opposition from political parties, and rather to rally support for his pact against Covid.