Haitian authorities await Dominican Republic approval to open gateway

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), Víctor Ito-Bisonó, toured this municipality’s binational market to supervise and follow up on trade at the Dajabón border.

During the tour, Bisonó said that the market is functioning normally and that there is harmony while noting that the most important thing is that it is exporting.

“President of the Republic Luis Abinader has instructed us, together with the director of the Specialized Border Security Corps (CESFRONT) Brigadier General José Hedilberto Rodríguez, to monitor security in the binational market of Dajabón,” said Bisonó.

He said that the footbridge located between the markets of Dajabón and Juana Méndez could be opened to speed up and decongest the border market for the commercial exchange, which was temporarily open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The official said that during the visit, he confirmed that trade dynamics between the two countries continue to flow and that products continue to be sold.

Likewise, the head of the MICM spoke with part of the board of the Merchants Association of this vital province, headed by Abigail Suero and Noé Fernández, to promote the fluidity of trade while ensuring that Haitian neighbors cross to their country after buying their products.

He said that this flow is about 20 thousand inhabitants who will have access on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays, the days of greater flow.

Along the same lines, the director of the Juana Méndez market, José Laguerre, and Joaunes Dufene, director of the Juana Méndez city council, said that they are in agreement with the opening of both markets and that they are waiting for the approval of the Dominican authorities.

Minister Bisonó was accompanied by the authorities of the border province of Dajabón, including the governor, Severina Gil, Santiago Riverón, mayor, Ney Rodríguez, senator, Father José Rafael Núñez (Chepe) and Ángel Encarnación, deputy director of the General Directorate of Customs. On behalf of the MICM, the vice-minister of Internal Commerce, Ramón Pérez Fermín, the provincial director, Daniel de Jesús Tapia Bello, Edwan Vicente Vélez, administrative director of the MICM in Dajabón.