President Highlights the Achievements of the DR in Its Strategic Alliance with the State of Florida

The President of GFDD/Funglode, Leonel Fernández, said that projects like the NAP of the Caribbean in Santo Domingo’s Cybernetic Park and the Instituto Técnico Superior Tecnológico of San Luis arose as a result of the Strategic Alliance Dominican Republic – State of Florida initiative, launched by himself a decade ago. Dominicans and Florida business professionals, cultural and academic leaders participated at the meeting, which was held at
Florida International University (FIU).

The former President of the Dominican Republic highlighted in his presentation the progress that his country has obtain through important agreements with academic institutions in Florida. Among the achievements of the Dominican Republic in the commercial, educational and job areas, as a result of this strategic alliance, Fernández underlined the installation of call centers in the country, the implementation of scholarship programs
for Dominican students studying in academic centers in Florida, and the exchange of university professors between the DR and Florida.

In the cultural area, the former President also cited the establishing of networking companies, projection of Dominican films, local art exhibitions, golf tournaments and the provision of materials and equipment for Dominican libraries; other areas to incorporate in the future are animation, video gaming and film industry, among others.

Fernández also highlighted that, as a result of
this alliance, the country received a great push in the free zones, with an increase in the imports of clothing, textiles, shoes and medical equipment. He also mentioned that in the future the incorporation of new areas such as renewable energy and software development is expected.

Likewise, the scholar cited the opportunities for the Dominican Republic to strengthen trade ties and exchange in the fields of technology, science, innovation and the entertainment industry in
Florida in the future.

The President of GFDD/Funglode insisted that for the Dominican Republic this strategy means attracting investment, improving the quality of the workforce and transferring knowledge, among other things.

This meeting was also made to receive proposals and suggestions of the various actors, in order to complement and strengthen bilateral upcoming initiatives.

"Now we have to continue with the synergy to
promote the development of different areas that represent opportunities for commercial, educational, scientific, social and cultural exchange," Fernández.