NewsWhore
09-25-2006, 05:20 PM
Ice cream manufacturer Jesus Moreno has urged Central Romana, the country's leading sugar producer to accept a strategic alliance with fruit and sweet-producing manufacturers to strengthen these companies. The alternative would be for the government to be more flexible in allowing sugar imports.
In interviews with Hoy and Listin Diario, the businessman said that while the fixed price for sugar is at RD$1,070, companies need to buy this at black market prices of RD$1,700 that makes their products uncompetitive. The Sweets Manufacturers Association (ASODULCE) has advocated that the government should allow open sugar imports, to eliminate this obstacle to local production. Moreno described how the high costs of producing locally, including the high cost of electricity, and the high cost and frequent shortage of sugar, a main input, has resulted in the disappearance of local brands like Cremita, Napoli, Capri and Frigor. Bon has 50% of the market share and the local brands Nestle (30%), Manresa and Noris (10%).
Moreno, who is also the president of the Herrera Industries Association, said that the country needs to work on finding export market niches for fruit products, in addition to organic farm produce.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)
In interviews with Hoy and Listin Diario, the businessman said that while the fixed price for sugar is at RD$1,070, companies need to buy this at black market prices of RD$1,700 that makes their products uncompetitive. The Sweets Manufacturers Association (ASODULCE) has advocated that the government should allow open sugar imports, to eliminate this obstacle to local production. Moreno described how the high costs of producing locally, including the high cost of electricity, and the high cost and frequent shortage of sugar, a main input, has resulted in the disappearance of local brands like Cremita, Napoli, Capri and Frigor. Bon has 50% of the market share and the local brands Nestle (30%), Manresa and Noris (10%).
Moreno, who is also the president of the Herrera Industries Association, said that the country needs to work on finding export market niches for fruit products, in addition to organic farm produce.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#9)