The Dominican Republic is known as an agribusiness nation. Agriculture, by its very nature, relies on ecological biodiversity, a varied climate and fertile soil, conducive to the cultivation of a wide range of crops. As a result of this fact and taking into account the human factor, certain crops are currently established as traditional export products. Subsequent harvests have produced new crops and these will continue to evolve in response to the conditions engendered by our natural resources and fostered by public and private sector investment, technical innovation, consumer demand and market trends.

Historically, and similarly to other Central American and Caribbean countries, Dominican agriculture had its foundation in the sugar industry, initially the main source of capital and foreign exchange, which diversified the national economy; a diversity achieved within the sugar industry itself but also throughout other sectors vital for our development, such as: free zones, metallurgy, private banking, the construction industry and tourism, among others. From the 1960s through to the present, agriculture expanded significantly and its importance was underscored by private sector commitment and investment, as well as by the support of the public sector.

There is increasing attention focused on technical improvements, brought about in order to promote a higher level of professionalism and optimization, while maintaining the comparative advantage characteristic of countries such as ours and based on the specialized skills of farmers, engineers, agricultural experts, field workers, and others who have a stake in our progress. With a keen sense of commitment to the development of a better nation and a view towards long-term investment, we are both willing and pledged to promote agriculture, emphasizing the harvest of crops and the products that have traditionally shaped its essence and have nurtured the investment and production potential that we presently perceive and envision for the future.

As a result, this year I am indeed pleased to present the publication “Interior- Exterior”, comprised of a book, daily planner and DVD. The collective theme of its components highlights the richness, variety and abundance of this industry. In its fourth publication and second consecutive book, VICINI has conceived, edited, and produced this work in its entirety, in keeping with an educational, cutting-edge and artistic vision. The three related items combine to create the pieces of a puzzle, working together, as well as independently. Selected products were evaluated in terms of their economic importance, with an overview of both traditional and new crops, business potential and visual richness.

The book “Interior, Harvests of the Dominican Republic” offers a general platform based on some of the main crops and their harvesting cycle. It reveals, as suggested by its title, the bounty of the soil, together with the intervention of man in the process and highlights the production areas located throughout the country. At the same time, the daily planner “Exterior, Products of the Dominican Republic” offers information on some of the featured products and indicates their placement in both local and export markets. Finally, the DVD is a summary of both publications, narrated by means of other visual resources, as well as including additional information.

On behalf of VICINI and myself, I would like to deeply thank all sectors, both private and public, economists, producers, specialists, engineers, technicians, workers, among so many others who pave the way for our national agriculture to be a key source of revenue and profitability, for their continued efforts to promote and expand future opportunities to achieve greater competitiveness and to better position the Dominican Republic within the region and throughout the world.

Felipe A. Vicini
Executive President
2013