THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL WORKSHOP ON

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL WORKSHOP ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS AND PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL FOR SAINT LUCIA Presentation by Laura del Castillo Saviñón, Technical Sub Director National Competitiveness Council, Dominican Republic September 16, 2011 Saint Lucia

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE Decentralized public entity, structured as a public-private sector partnership operating at the national level Created by Presidential Decree in 2001 ratified into law in 2006 enforced by Regulation in 2010 Council chaired by the President of the Dominican Republic Board comprised of seven public members and eight private sector members Technical assistance resources are channeled through the National Competitiveness Fund on a matching grant basis Funding GODR and from international cooperation agencies

MISSION Promote and implement competitive strategies in key productive sectors and improve the business climate of DR to deal with the challenges of globalization and trade VISION To be the leading institution in achieving systemic competitiveness of the DR promoting consensus between the public sector and private business partnerships and improving the business climate. 3

STRENGTHS Effective public-private sector dialogue forum to identify issues affecting competitiveness Power to convene of the President of the DR as Chairman of the Council Proven facilitator in achieving business regulatory reform and in improving private sector competitiveness through cluster development The National Systemic Competitiveness Plan, launched by the President, resulted from an effective public-private sector dialogue currently part of the Dominican Republic Development Strategy

STRENGTHS Institutional credibility – an organization that has transcended administrations National Competitiveness Fund – an innovative and effective vehicle for channeling technical assistance resources to finance competitiveness projects through matching grants Competitiveness Observatory Web Facility–public access mechanism to monitor implementation of the NSCP and repository of information on competitiveness Promote a culture of quality and innovation within SMEs. 5

ACHIEVEMENTS Get the confidence and credibility of international organizations for the development of important programs and projects. The development and support to 36 existing cluster initiatives (tourism, industry, agribusiness, software and call center). The approval of legal reforms (Law of Commercial Companies, Industrial Competitiveness and Innovation Act, Competition Act, Strengthening SMEs Act, among others. ) that made DR on of the Top Ten Reformers in 2009 World Bank recognition Coordination and launch of the 1 st web page to create enterprises in DR. 6

WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW Capacity Building Program in Support of Sectorial Policies in the Competitive area (EU-DIGECOOM) Formalization of SMEs Project, (60 SMEs) Taiwan. Program of Strengthening the Value Chain of Banana by boosting inclusive markets. (UNDP-Spanish Cooperation) Technical Assistance Program to Support Competitiveness Policies II (IDB) Preparing the V Americas Competitiveness Forum 7

KEY COMPETITIVENESS ISSUES Human capital development: education and workforce training Sustainable development – impact of national resource degradation Transformation and diversification of the national production base Taking advantage of Free Trade Agreements Energy cost and reliability Deepening of business climate reform Modernizing trade facilitation infrastructure Attracting high value-added export FDI Improving infrastructure and logistics Accelerating technology development and innovation

LESSONS LEARNED: CULTURAL DIMENSION The Systemic Nature of Competitiveness: the effort of a country, not just an agency Challenges of Public Sector Coordination Achieving Joint Effort and Shared Responsibility

LESSONS LEARNED WHAT IS CRITICAL? Leadership at all levels Mindset changes: a different perspective in understating what is competitiveness Sustainability and independence Strategic analysis: best practices and benchmarking

October 5 -7, 2011 THANK YOU!