Fortuño announces entrepreneurial alliance to strengthen Caribbean commerce
Río Grande — Gov. Luis Fortuño used this year’s Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Annual convention as backdrop to announce the establishment of an alliance with the Dominican Republic to further entrepreneurial activities between the islands.
The so-called “Dominican-Puerto Rican and Caribbean Entrepreneurial Alliance” looks to strengthen commercial relations among the business sectors in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and Latin America through “joint, concrete actions with their respective governments,” Fortuño said during a news conference before his participation as keynote speaker during Friday’s convention activities.
The entrepreneurial alliance is the result of the success obtained during the most recent government-sponsored commercial mission to the neighboring island nation in October 2010.
“Through this innovative alliance, we’re establishing an entrepreneurial group led by the private sector with the support from both governments, which will allow us to follow up on collaboration agreements, develop initiatives that broaden our commercial opportunities, and seek solutions to common problems plaguing both jurisdictions,” Fortuño said.
Fortuño said the government’s role is to facilitate joint investment and ensure the proper institutional and regulatory framework that facilitates and sustains the full development of the agreement.
During the October trip, participants were able to establish business transactions that could represent $100 million in revenue in three years, Economic Development and Commerce Secretary José Pérez-Riera said.
