Every September, electronic government strategy is established by OPTIC and CNSIC to construct e-Dominicana (updated annually).
IT electronic government promotion plan, mobile electronic government plan and other various master plans for the construction of an electronic government are currently being discussed.
A significant synergy effect is expected when the master plan business is funded properly considering the president's focus in the electronic government business.
Feasibility Study of the Establishment of the CIBAO Trade Center in the DR 28 Korea's Uni-Pass and NEIS system are being implemented in the Dominican Republic
government.
< Table 2-14 2006~2008 Major Electronic Government Project Funded by the Government >
Project Budget Use Remarks
Government Intranet Feasibility Investigation (Estudio de Factibilidad)
US$ 100,000
Feasibility study for the construction of
government intranet
In progress/G2G Opened in 2006.10
Intranet for Public Security Offices
(IESP, Interconexion Estatal por la Seguridad publica)
N/A
Information share within 17 public safety offices (Ministry of
Communication, Internal Affair, Police, National Security, Construction, Immigration and others)
In progress/G2G
Government Intranet
(Intranet Gubernamental) US$ 3 million
Construction of
government intranet G2G
Executed after feasibility report/G2G Management System for
Social Assistance (SIGAS, Sistema de gestion
de Ayuda Social)
US$ 55,000
System to process social fund cooperation and adjustments
Opened in 2006.10 G2G/G2C Import/Export Portal
(Portal del Exportador) US$ 30,000
Portal site for
import/export companies
Opened in 2006.10 G2B
Virtual Government Directory
(Proyecto Directorio Virtual)
US$ 31,000 Construction of
government address book
Opened in 2006.9 G2G/G2C
Emergency 911 System N/A Construction of
emergency 911 system Planning Stage
Single Window for Business Establishment (Ventanilla Unica para la
Creacion de Empresa)
US$ 570,000
Integration of systemized portal for business establishment Opened in 2006.11 G2B Electronic Complaint Management Center (Centro de Gestion y Atencion al Ciudadno) N/A
Electronic process of civil complaints toward public services
Opened in 2006.12 G2C
Reference: KOTRA
In order to distribute internet networks on a national level, a total of 1 billion Pesos have been invested by the Dominican government until November 2008 and 867 'Internet Centers' have been constructed around the nation. The Ministry of Communication aims to construct 1,400 technology centers equipped with an electronic library and internet access computers.
In order to promote the IT industry in the Dominican Republic, large-scaled IT districts have been constructed to promote investments from foreign companies. Also,
Feasibility Study of the Establishment of the CIBAO Trade Center in the DR 29 by establishing the ITLA research center, Dominica is aiming to become the mecca of the Central South American IT industry.
INDOTEL is planning the following business to promote the ICT industry. Digital Cities, Communication Technology Centers
Supply computers to education centers, construct digital rooms within universities, construction of electronic library and others
Provide internet access in public libraries, police stations, and culture centers Strengthen civil security with support from police offices
Telemedicine and others
Also, by utilizing its central location in Central and South American countries, it can become a new “e-Trade Hub” of the neighboring region. The DR government is focusing its efforts on promoting export businesses through the ICT system.
Feasibility Study of the Establishment of the CIBAO Trade Center in the DR 30
5. Import/Export Status and Related Policies
5.1 General Import/Export Status
5.1.1
Export Status
The annual export increase rate was below 6% during 2005-2007, significantly lower than the average annual export increase rates of DR-CAFTA member countries, 11%. The sudden decrease of the exporting market in the Dominican Republic may be explained by the downfall of the free trade zone, the delay in selecting prospective exporting industries and the lack of exporting finance policies.
< Table 2-15 Economic Prospect of Dominican Republic >
2008 2009 2010 2011 Economic Growth (%) 4.5 3.8 4.5 4.5 Inflation (%) 10.5 8.2 6.1 5.4 Export Growth (%) 3.1 1.1 0.2 4.0 Reference: EU
5.1.2
Export Status
The exporting drive of the Dominican Republic has been weakened significantly in recent years. Since the 1990s, 35% of Dominica's GDP was supported by goods exports. However, it has decreased to 27% in 2003 and 15% in 2007.
The reason behind the sudden decline of the exporting industry in the Dominican Republic has to do with the downfall of the free trade zone, delay in selection of prospective exporting industries, and lack of exporting finance policies. Even though the decline of the free trade zone is persistent, it still shares 65.3% of the Dominican exporting market.
The total exports of the Dominican Republic was 5.5 billion USD in 2003, 5.9 billion USD in 2004, 6.1 billion USD in 2005, 6.6 billion USD in 2006, and 7.2 billion USD in 2007. However, the increasing trend started to disappear in 2008. It was 6.9 billion USD in 2008 and 5.8 billion USD in 2009. Thanks to the economic boom in the US, the exporting market of the Dominican Republic also marked its peak at 7 billion USD in 2007. However, the importing market has also peaked in the same year (13.6 billion USD). (The trade balance was minus 6.4 billion USD, the largest loss in the history of the Dominican Republic.)
< Table 2-16 Annual Import/Export Status >
(Unit: Million USD)
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Export 5,470 5,935 6,144 6,610 7,160 6,949 5,765
Feasibility Study of the Establishment of the CIBAO Trade Center in the DR 31 Reference: EU
< Table 2-17 Five Major Export Countries >
(Unit: Million USD)
2007 2008
Rank
Country Export scope Share(%) Country Export scope Share(%)
1 USA 597 26.4 USA 388 20.9
2 Netherlands 355 15.7 Haiti 235 12.7
3 China 190 8.4 Spain 156 8.47
4 Haiti 155 6.8 Netherlands 143 7.7
5 Korea 135 5.9 Belgium 118 6.3
Reference: Export statistics from Tax Service
5.1.3
Import Status
Imports were decreased during 2002-2003 due to the economic depression. Imports were at 7.9 billion USD in 2004, 9.9 billion USD in 2005, 12 billion USD in 2006, 13.1 billion USD in 2007, and 16 billion USD in 2008. The increasing trend has stopped in 2008-2009 due to the global economic depression. Imports were at 12 billion USD in 2009.
The five major importing goods of the Dominican Republic are petroleum and its derivative products, large consumption food products, automobile and electronic goods, steel products, and medical and chemical goods. Imports of petroleum and its derivative products scaled up to 4.22 billion USD, sharing 31.4% of total importing goods.
< Table 2-18 Five major import countries of the DR >
(Unit: Million US$)
Origin country + FOB standard Shipping country + FOB standard
Rank
Country Exporting scope Share (%) Country Exporting scope Share (%)
1 USA 4,034 30.2 USA 4,423 33.1
2 Venezuela 1,397 10.4 Venezuela 1,397 10.4
3 Taiwan 895 6.7 Mexico 781 5.8
4 Mexico 836 6.2 Columbia 712 5.3
5 Columbia 723 5.4 Taiwan 612 4.6
Reference: Export statistics from Tax Service