Local July 18, 2012 | 12:23 pm

Export of stolen metal makes more than coffee, official says

Santo Domingo.- The head of Dominican Republic’s Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD) urged regulation of metals and cable exports to curt the thefts he called barbaric, and revealed that the illicit business already earns more than coffee exports.

Eddy Martinez on Wednesday said despite that metals export is a big business which earns dollars and creates jobs, asked the Chamber of Deputies to review the draft for the Scrap Metal Exports Regulation Law, proposed by deputy Carlos Gabriel.

At the meeting of the Deputies Industry and Commerce and Environment Commissions, the official said scrap metal exports topped US$173.0 million last year or nearly RD$6.0 billion.

He said the export total since 2005 is US$697.0 million, equal to 10 times Dominican Republic’s coffee exports. “Wealth is being generated from trash and waste in the country."

But Customs representative Gregory Lora said only 40 companies are currently authorized to export metals, with two suspended for violation of established procedures.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments