The Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Pável Isa Contreras, explained how the Government is promoting the productive development of the Enriquillo region through the articulation of projects that take into account the potential of its four provinces, Barahona, Bahoruco, Pedernales and Independencia.
The economist detailed these ideas and initiatives of economic and social development in a press conference held at the headquarters of the Universidad Católica Tecnológica de Barahona (UCATEBA), on the occasion of the Dialogues of Development on Wednesday, August 2 at the campus of this city of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD).
Isa Contreras said that since the beginning of this governmental administration, great efforts have been made for the development of the southwest of the country, among them the construction of the Monte Grande dam, the support to the tourist development of Pedernales and the Development Strategy for the Border Zone (Mi Frontera RD).
The minister was emphatic in affirming that the development of Pedernales cannot take place without the development of the rest of the provinces of the Enriquillo region, for which he stated that Barahona should be conceived as the logistic center of the zone, while Bahoruco and Independencia should become the provinces that supply agricultural products and promote agro-industries.
He also mentioned the tourist potential of the area around Lake Enriquillo, shared by the provinces of Independencia and Bahoruco, where hotels and other small businesses whose activities respect the environment could be installed.
Regarding tourism in Pedernales province, economist Isa Contreras highlighted the importance of implementing a model where Cabo Rojo and the urban center of the municipality of Pedernales complement each other with the offer of services to tourists.
As for Barahona, the minister highlighted the geographic diversity of this province, which allows it to venture into economic activities as different as agriculture and livestock and tourism of mountains and beaches.
Public policies in the territories
The Minister of Economy recalled the Government’s commitment with the territorialization of public policies to achieve concrete solutions where people live and that do not go against the environment or natural resources.
“The fundamental objective of public policy must be to improve people’s quality of life. Any public policy action makes sense when it is aimed at helping people choose the life they value and want to have,” said the economist and researcher.
Also present at the press conference were the governor of Barahona, Genara González Marmolejos; the vice-minister of Territorial Planning and Regional Development, Domingo Matías; the director of Cabinet, Manuel Robles; the director of Development Policies of the Border Zone, Erick Dorrejo; the representative of the Regional Planning Office of the Southwest, Julio César Osorio; and the rector of UCATEBA, Marco Antonio Pérez Pérez.
Source: Mepyd.gob.do
