Ministry of Culture develops plan for the promotion and competitiveness of craftsmanship

Ministry of Culture develops plan for the promotion and competitiveness of craftsmanship
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo 05/10/13

The Ministry of Culture, through the National Center for Craftsmanship (CENADARTE – Centro Nacional de Artesanía), organized the National Technical Committee meeting for the formulation of the Master Plan for Craftsmanship (CTPA – Plan Director de Artesanía), which seeks to promote, foster and develop craftsmanship at the national level.

During the meeting with entrepreneurs of the craftsmanship industry, the needs and the reality of the sector were raised, as well as the initiatives for financing and credit to the Dominican crafts SMEs.

To achieve this objective,there was a proposal for the formation of an inter-agency committee to inform, support and provide technical assistance to the Dominican crafts small and medium enterprises.

The meeting was held in the Ramón Oviedo Art Hall of the Ministry of Culture and it was chaired by José Antonio Rodríguez, Minister of Culture.He was accompanied by Valentín Guerrero, Director of the CENADARTE, Liliana Rodríguez, Executive of Promipyme; Mártires Montero, President of the Dominican Federation of Artisans, and Noel BouVásquez, Director of Support Services to the SMEs from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Also present were craftspeople from across the country and representatives of Infotep,Conadis, Innobambú, Fodearte, Proindustria, Onapi, CEIRD, Tourism and Fredadeco, among others.

During the meeting with entrepreneurs of the craftsmanship industry, the needs and the reality of the sector were raised, as well as the initiatives for financing and credit to the Dominican crafts SMEs.

The Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez, supported the artisans’ organization, for the creation of a strategic plan for the development and growth of craftsmanship and for conducting a survey of the industry, in order to make it competitive in the market and to achieve greater support for the SMEs.

In turn, Liliana Rodríguez shared the opinion of the Minister of Culture concerning the organization of the craftspeopleto achieve better benefits, which may be done through the creation of cooperatives, crafts stores and boutiques.

She pointed outthat the growth of the craftsmanship sector not only impactson the financing of projects, but also on the suppliers and marketing. “Organizing is the best way for you, craftspeople, to achieve development and to avoid leaving isolated groups behind.”

She also stressed that the rate for loans thatPromipyme and Banca Solidaria offer to craftspeople is 10% fixed annual rate, that theywaive closing costs and provide guidance and offer all kinds of services so that they can start developing in the market.


Valentín Guerrero, theMinister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez, Liliana Rodríguez, Juan Román and Noel Bou Vásquez.


Some of the artisans and representatives of the crafts sector of the country that were present.


The Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez, supportedthe artisans’organization during the meeting of the National Technical Committee for the formulation of the Master Planfor Craftsmanship (CTPA – Plan Director de Artesanía).