P.R. Products Assoc. to celebrate local industry
Products Association Chairman Manuel Cidre (at podium) and vice president Jaime Morales.
The Puerto Rico Products Association will celebrate “Puerto Rican Industry Month” in April with a series of events that seek to foster socioeconomic development, namely the “Made in Puerto Rico Forum,” and its 47th annual convention.
So said Products Association Chairman Manuel Cidre during a news conference Thursday, noting the trade group will also be active in the Senate in support of Bills 400 and 401 that empower both the Products Association and its flagship label “Made in Puerto Rico” as well as local companies to continue promoting, developing and optimizing local goods and services, while providing export incentives.
The proposed measures have already raised concerns from Tourism Company Executive Director Ingrid Rivera-Rocafort, who said earlier this week they would imply that the private association would have the power to determine whether a product is made on the island, based on its own judgment and without consulting with government agencies.
Full agenda
The group’s month-long celebration will start with the “Made in Puerto Rico” forum, hosted jointly with UBS and the Ferré Rangel Group, April 18. The focus will be primarily on discussing the reality of local industry and how its promotion, optimization and development can boost economic growth.
“For the first time in history, the forum will serve as a working tool for both private enterprise and for the local and federal governments,” said Cidre, adding that a study produced by the Estudios Técnicos firm on the current status of Puerto Rican industry as its competitive position and opportunities for development will be unveiled that day.
The event will collect the most important points to generate proposals that will be delivered to Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla and President Barack Obama, so they can “work together on this effort,” Cidre noted.
Meanwhile, the Products Association will hold its 47th annual convention April 26-28 in Río Grande, featuring a program to do business, establish alliances and shape ideas that result in economic development and the internationalization of local products and industries.
The group has assigned the “Building the future together” slogan to the event that aims to continue the development of strategies to optimize and maximize the “Made in Puerto Rico” brand through partners, collaborators, government and local and national companies, Cidre said.
