Government Signs Agreement with United Nations over Development of Banana Production

Government Signs Agreement with United Nations over Development of Banana Production

The Dominican government signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations (UN) System for the strengthening of the value chain of bananas through increasing the growth of inclusive markets. This is expected to be carried out over the coming three years with an overall budget of $4.7 million dollars. The project will be developed in Montecristi, Valverde and Azua provinces.

Economy, Planning and Development Minister Montás explained that the initiative, which seeks to contribute to the reduction of poverty…

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Temístocles Montás, in representation of the Dominican government; Valerie Julliand, resident representative of the UN Development Program (UNDP) and Miguel Ángel Encina, General Coordinator of Spanish Cooperation, according to a press release from the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

The agreement will be implemented with donations from the UNDP and the Spanish government for the purpose of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Economy, Planning and Development Minister Montás explained that the initiative, which seeks to contribute to the reduction of poverty, is based on the guidelines of the ongoing National Development Strategy, soon to be made public.

Along these lines, he observed that this initiative will support the government policy of strengthening joint production as conceived in the framework of the National Competitiveness Plan.

Mr. Temístocles Montás said the programs seeks, among other things, to increase competitiveness through the incorporation of new technology and productivity (watering and energy systems) to benefit small banana producers and exporters from Montecristi, Azua y Valverde provinces.

UNDP representative Julliand stressed the importance of the agreement saying that it will help make banana producing and marketing in the DR more competitive. Bananas are one of the country’s most important exports, he pointed out, and can therefore contribute to the reduction of poverty in the country. He added that the program will be carried out in the poorest areas of the country thus furthering the DR’s commitment to meet part of the Millennium Development Goals, noting that to meet these objectives it is necessary to generate jobs.

Miguel Ángel Encina, of Spanish Cooperation, said it is of great satisfaction for his country to arrive at this agreement with the Dominican Republic and that it further ratifies Spain’s commitment to its development. He added that this program is a commitment to Dominican producers as well as a program to combat poverty.

The signed agreement will involve implementation from seven UN Systems agencies in the country including the UNDP, FAO, ILO, UN AIDS, PAHO/WHO which work in coordination with the Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Environment, Labor and the Dominican Institute of Hydraulic Resources, among other governmental organizations.

The signing ceremony took place in Minister Montás’ office in the National Palace. Those present included the Deputy Minister of International Cooperation, América Bastidas; Deputy Minister of Planning, Nelson Toca and Executive Director of the Competitiveness Council, Andrés Vanderhorst. International organizations were represented by FAO’s Mauricio Ramírez and Elías Dinzey, the official in charge of ILO.