NewsWhore
10-15-2010, 04:50 PM
The cost of transport needs to drop if trade and travel between Puerto Rico and the DR is to grow, according to Dominican business leaders. Frank Rainieri of the Punta Cana Group made the point that Dominicans can often travel to Madrid for less than it costs to travel to Mayaguez, 20 minutes flight time away. "This is closer than to Santo Domingo," he stressed.
Rainieri said that that around 1.2 million European tourists travel to the DR, of whom 800,000 enter via the Punta Cana International Airport. He said that so far, the DR and Puerto Rico have not been able to develop twin destination programs, primarily because of the high fares.
Jose L. Corripio added that there is no adequate shipping service between both islands. He said there are few connections. He said that his company exported 40-60 containers every week and that it has problems obtaining the necessary freight space. He said that mechanisms needed to be found for reducing freight costs and making the most of Puerto Rico as a platform for entering the US market, as reported in Listin Diario.
The business leaders made their comments during their meeting with Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuno at the Hilton Hotel in Santo Domingo. Fortuno visited 13-14 October, heading a mission of Puerto Rican businessmen.
The president of the National Business Council, Lisandro Macarrulla encouraged the Dominican President to imitate business incentive policies adopted by the Governor of Puerto Rico. He said in Puerto Rico business is at the center of development plans. Macarrulla said that both islands needed to work together to reach out to Caribbean markets. He said that the region is divided despite the proximity of the islands.
"Traditionally we look to the big markets such as the United States and Europe. But we are not exploiting the true potential of trade within the Caribbean. The union with Puerto Rico and us creates a strength that will benefit both parties," he said at the meeting.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
Rainieri said that that around 1.2 million European tourists travel to the DR, of whom 800,000 enter via the Punta Cana International Airport. He said that so far, the DR and Puerto Rico have not been able to develop twin destination programs, primarily because of the high fares.
Jose L. Corripio added that there is no adequate shipping service between both islands. He said there are few connections. He said that his company exported 40-60 containers every week and that it has problems obtaining the necessary freight space. He said that mechanisms needed to be found for reducing freight costs and making the most of Puerto Rico as a platform for entering the US market, as reported in Listin Diario.
The business leaders made their comments during their meeting with Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuno at the Hilton Hotel in Santo Domingo. Fortuno visited 13-14 October, heading a mission of Puerto Rican businessmen.
The president of the National Business Council, Lisandro Macarrulla encouraged the Dominican President to imitate business incentive policies adopted by the Governor of Puerto Rico. He said in Puerto Rico business is at the center of development plans. Macarrulla said that both islands needed to work together to reach out to Caribbean markets. He said that the region is divided despite the proximity of the islands.
"Traditionally we look to the big markets such as the United States and Europe. But we are not exploiting the true potential of trade within the Caribbean. The union with Puerto Rico and us creates a strength that will benefit both parties," he said at the meeting.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)