Dominican Ambassador in Japan Meets with Business and Tourism Sectors of Puerto Plata

Dominican Ambassador in Japan Meets with Business and Tourism Sectors of Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 8/5/2013

As part of the activities underwayto at the Restoration 2013 Festival, Dominican Ambassador to Japan, Héctor Domínguez, visited Puerto Plata’s Chamber of Commerce and Productionwhere he held meetings with representatives from commercial, productive and tourism sectors of the province.

Mr. Plá called the meeting an important opportunity to create a synergy and develop exchange initiatives between the two peoples that will benefit the country, especially Puerto Plata.

Ambassador Domínguez and the commission that traveled with him were received by Angel Amaury Plá, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who expressed his enthusiasm about the meeting, which was organized by the executive committee of the Restoration Festival, Julio Alberto Melo.

Mr. Plá called the meeting an important opportunity to create a synergy and develop exchange initiatives between the two peoples that will benefit the country, especially Puerto Plata.

Expressing his interest in increasing relations between Japan and the Dominican Republic, Ambassador Domínguez said, at the moment, exchange between the two countries is relatively small. He promised to work hard to create more commercial, cultural and social policies that will bring them closer.

Representatives from various sectors at the meeting explained the individual projects and activities they hoped to undertake and implement in the effort to broaden relations with Japan.

Mitchell Musa, vice president of the Tourism Operators Association of the Dominican Republic (OPETUR in Spanish), touched on the topic of a possible “Open Sky” agreement with Japan that would allow for unlimited, low cost flights between the two countries.

Luis Liriano, president of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the North (ASHONORTE), suggested organizing a series of trips for Japanese visitors in the DR as a way of determining if open sky agreement is actually necessary.

Other issues discussed included tourism for Japanese senior citizens. There are indications that this sector could be a potentially positive addition to the market mainly because of the comforts the DR has to offer the retirement community.

In terms of the productive sector, it was decided to review Japan’s existing duty and tax schemes to further develop exporting such agricultural products as cacao, mangos, avocados and other fruits and produce.

They also touched on the possibility of creating a maritime route for shipping perishable goods in special cargo ships as a way of helping to establish more expansive commercial traffic.

From the artisanal sector, Miguel Frederich Pimentel Schouwe, executive director of the organization Promotion and Development of National Artisanal Artwork (FODEARTE),said that exporting handmade artwork is a good place to begin the process of commercial exchange in that it has important value, mainly as an significant expression of the DR’s unique handicrafts.

There was also interest at the meeting in undertaking cultural exchange that would stimulate Japanese tourism through music, sports and participation in the Dominican tourism fair held annually in Japan.

Ambassador Domínguez was receptive and enthusiastic about the issues brought up at the meeting. He said he was committed to furthering the government’s intention to open markets,introduce new Dominican products and helpingto stimulate an increase in commercial relations between the two countries.