NewsWhore
06-07-2010, 02:00 PM
A foreign consultant study ordered by the Association of Furniture, Mattresses and Related Industries (Asonaimco) reveals that the 20% affluent part of the population purchases 80% of all furniture sold in the DR. The preference is to buy imports, primarily because the locally-made furniture do not meet expectations in design, price and quality, says the study. Some US$300 million (approximately RD$10 billion) is the volume of furniture sales according to the study, as reported in Hoy.
The Association is working on a pilot project with 15 local furniture manufacturers so these can meet local market demands. The project began in 2009 and is financed by the Center for the Development of Enterprises (CDE), with European Union funds. The CDE is backing the organization with EUR600,000.
The president of Asonaimco said that they are working with the Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD), the National Competitiveness Council (CNC) and the Institute for Technical and Professional Formation (Infotep). The plan is for the CEI-RD to help in the design of the program, the CNC in competitiveness matters and in the preparation of strategic plans, and CDE will provide the funds to bring international technicians to train the staff in these 15 companies and train trainers at Infotep to continue the program. The participating 15 companies will contribute 33% of the project.
Asonaimco said that following the crisis of 2008-2009 there are less new homes coming into the market, thus the number of people moving and furnishing their new homes is down. Nevertheless, he forecast an improvement in the local demand for furniture by mid 2011. He also said that furniture manufacturing companies have been closing, not able to compete with foreign imports.
Attias said that the local furniture industry is at disadvantage regarding the tourism industry, one of the biggest furniture buyers, because new hotels are authorized to bring in all their furniture without paying taxes, and prefer imports for most of their furnishings.
He said there is a movement in the region, Contra Caribbean that seeks to group manufacturers in the Caribbean.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
The Association is working on a pilot project with 15 local furniture manufacturers so these can meet local market demands. The project began in 2009 and is financed by the Center for the Development of Enterprises (CDE), with European Union funds. The CDE is backing the organization with EUR600,000.
The president of Asonaimco said that they are working with the Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD), the National Competitiveness Council (CNC) and the Institute for Technical and Professional Formation (Infotep). The plan is for the CEI-RD to help in the design of the program, the CNC in competitiveness matters and in the preparation of strategic plans, and CDE will provide the funds to bring international technicians to train the staff in these 15 companies and train trainers at Infotep to continue the program. The participating 15 companies will contribute 33% of the project.
Asonaimco said that following the crisis of 2008-2009 there are less new homes coming into the market, thus the number of people moving and furnishing their new homes is down. Nevertheless, he forecast an improvement in the local demand for furniture by mid 2011. He also said that furniture manufacturing companies have been closing, not able to compete with foreign imports.
Attias said that the local furniture industry is at disadvantage regarding the tourism industry, one of the biggest furniture buyers, because new hotels are authorized to bring in all their furniture without paying taxes, and prefer imports for most of their furnishings.
He said there is a movement in the region, Contra Caribbean that seeks to group manufacturers in the Caribbean.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)