Through public-private partnerships (PPP) investments in infrastructure works for an approximate amount of US$1,500 million are already contemplated in the country for the next years 2021 and 2022.
Among the projects to be executed are the Port of Manzanillo (US$400 million), the Ambar Highway (US$300 million) and tourism projects and complementary works (housing, water, electricity, among others) in Pedernales (US$900 million), which would cause a reactivation of the economy and the generation of thousands of jobs.
This was stated by the general director of Public Private Partnerships, Sigmund Freund, during an interview for HOY, in which he stressed that the new Government, headed by Luis Abinader, is committed to being “efficient”, with the aim of making its management transparent and eliminate the bureaucracy that prevents the acceleration of investment in the Dominican Republic.
The director indicated that the Agency of Public-Private Partnerships is committed to structuring the aforementioned projects.
In addition, there is a great interest by local and international investors in areas of road infrastructure, urban mobility, ports, hospitals, housing and electricity and others.
He highlighted the interest of the private sector in PPPs, which has shown that they were anxious for a regulation and an office to channel public-private investments.
He added that investment funds, as well as the vocation of pension funds, are excellent attractions to develop projects through PPPs, since it would create a diversification in the investment of those resources that would allow greater profitability for the benefit of shareholders and Dominican workers.
He said that it must be taken into account is that Law 47-20 regarding Public-Private Partnerships orders a promotion of competitiveness, therefore there is a purpose to guarantee that not only two or three large investors are the beneficiaries of large projects.
In that order, he added that the objective is to create conditions so that small investors or small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) can also participate through the stock market.
“The idea is to sell with a public offering trust to all those Dominicans, even on foot, who wants to invest up to five thousand pesos, ten thousand pesos, because it can be done through the modality of shares”, said the director.
Regarding the complaint that there is a lot of bureaucracy in the country, which affects private investment, the general director of Public-Private Partnerships said that there is an objective of making an efficient government, so work is being done on speeding up the deadlines for administrative procedures through the enactment of laws, regulations and internal regulations. In addition, the operation of a single window will be promoted.
