Leonel Fernández Aspires for the DR to Reach Development Levels of the World’s Great Nations with RD2044 Initiative

Doctor Leonel Fernández, former President of the Dominican Republic and current President of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode), underscored the significant levels of development the Dominican Republic has reached in the last 50 years as well as its prospects for the future.

On Tuesday, Dr. Fernández launched “República Dominicana 2044”, a plan he is
spearheading. The project, RD2044, is a 30-year vision for development and infrastructure to be undertaken in the country’s 32 provinces, leading up to the country’s Bicentennial Celebration in 2044.

In his speech, Dr. Fernández told a packed house at New York City’s Symphony Space, that Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is not only the oldest city in the New World, but that it also contains a palpable sense of history and
projects a clear vision for the future.

“Of course, we will not postpone the aspirations, desires and ideals of prosperity for our people,” said Dr. Fernández, who also chairs the European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Foundation (EU-LAC Foundation) as well as other international institutions.

“Now, with a view to celebrating the Bicentennial of the Republic in 2044, it is our legitimate desire that progress in all areas will be of such a magnitude that everyone, even in New York, will say that we didn’t
come up short,” he said after explaining that the goal of RD2044 is to create, in coming years, a model of an equitable nation with a first world economy.

Through the use of a virtual 3-D layout, Fernández thoroughly explained the major projects designed for Greater Santo Domingo and for each of the country’s provinces and interior towns and municipalities.

He noted that RD2044 is a 30-year vision for the future, which seeks the
commitment and empowerment of representatives from each of the communities as a way of promoting much-needed development in the Dominican Republic.

The former Head of State explained that the initiative, sponsored by Funglode, is proposing 1,200 projects to be undertaken throughout the country as a way of propelling the Dominican Republic towards development and a better quality of life for its inhabitants.

Representatives from different sectors of
Dominican society attended the launch of RD2044 at New York City’s Symphony Space. There was also a huge turnout among Dominican residents in New York City and State.

More about RD2044
Research for the initiative, based on the Ley de Estrategia Nacional de Desarrollo 2030 (National Development Strategy Law 2030), began in 2008. Since then, a team of professionals from the Center for the Study of Urban Planning and Infrastructure at
Funglode, headed by Department Director and engineer César Fernández, traveled around the country holding meetings in each province, as a way of identifying projects needed to transform the communities in positive ways.

RD2044 takes into account the factors that most affect opportunities for access to basic services such as education, decent employment as well as personal and community development. It aims to create the physical conditions through which the use of space
enables economic, social and cultural development that will ultimately improve individual and collective quality of life, and promote social inclusion and opportunities for people, while contributing to the reasonable and responsible use of the country’s natural, cultural and historical resources.

In effect, the eight strategic areas of development upon which RD2044 is based include improving the quality of basic services such as potable water, sanitary drainage
systems and electricity; tourist and cultural diversification, consolidation of production through decent jobs; training and development of skills, community association, urban and institutional management, sustainable development and provincial and regional interconnection.

Research done for this project is available for review and interaction on the webpage:  www.rd2044.org All citizens are
invited to learn more about it and to become empowered about issues that affect their provinces and lives.