By Ana María Ramos
Photos: Fidel Pérez
SANTIAGO.- A majestic stage with the corporate image of the event concept and at the other end an imposing photo of the iconic Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration, adorned part of the setup of the second CENI Expo Forum, held yesterday in this city.
“Construction has been one of the main drivers of recent years; there is no tourism without infrastructure, and the Heart City has been a pioneer in real estate tourism,” were some of the points made by Jacqueline Mora, Vice Minister of Tourism, as the first speaker at the event labeled “North Zone Beats Dominican Heart.”.
The economist took to the stage, but not before the attendees enjoyed the musical opening dedicated to the Monument, offered by the School of Spectacular Events, who, with typical costumes, inaugurated the meeting, to the rhythm of "Santiago de Noche", the popular song by Juan Luis Guerra.
The voiceover, Jinette Clase, called Alberto Bogaert, president of the Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies (AEI), to the stage. He emphasized the importance of certification for agents and presented a video highlighting the positive results the organization has achieved under his leadership.
He spoke about the rental law and said that the entity he represents wants the country to have an exemplary piece of rental legislation, "not the one they are presenting in Congress which is not convenient for either the investor or the tenant.".
Dressed in white, Paola Romero of Grupo Certezza returned to the Expo Foro CENI stage. Once again, she showcased her experience as a skilled presenter, enlightening the audience with case studies and highlighting the importance of legal certainty in the real estate sector.
Lucero Arias, the representative of Noval Properties, took advantage of the fertile land of Santiago de Cuba to premiere the company's new promotional video. She spoke about the brand's forward-thinking vision, its innovative features, and its projects in the northern region.
Noval Academy was also featured as one of the programs the company is currently investing in; in addition, the new Juanillo Hill project was announced, a luxury complex that will be built in Cap Cana.
Juan Carlos Padilla, regional director for the Northern Zone of the Popular Savings and Loan Association (APAP), took the stage to promote his brand. “I come from APAP and I’m here to tell you how you can find solutions to your needs,” he said, detailing the growth of the financial institution, which currently has 53 branches, 9 of which are located in the Northern region: Puerto Plata, La Vega, Moca, San Francisco de Macoris, and Santiago.
The morning cycle was coming to a close, and that's why Nathalia Rodríguez and Xavier Lora, two young talents from Murcia Group, led the question and answer section, with the freshness and beauty of a youth full of talent.
Evening arrived
The afternoon kicked off with the event's highlight: an expert panel moderated by José Alberto Espinal, a veteran real estate agent representing Plusval Dominicana and a connoisseur of Santiago and its people. Sandy Rodríguez of Gizeh Constructora, Isely Almánzar of Keller Williams North Zone, and Michelle Sadhalá of Banreservas analyzed the potential of the North Zone as an ideal investment destination.
They detailed, with full knowledge, the path that the Heart City has taken to achieve its current renewed appearance. "As Minister David Collado says about the Dominican Republic, Santiago has it all.".
“What has happened in Santiago in recent years has been majestic, not only in construction. A few years ago we barely had two supermarkets and now we have several franchises, we have health tourism, highways, shopping centers, gastronomy,” Almánzar explained.
Michelle Sadhalá explained that Banreservas has launched a whole process of placing offices to serve the highest level operations, which are demanded by the people of Santiago; while Sandy Rodríguez cited the evolutionary process of construction, led, according to her analysis, by a generation of young developers who imported some concepts from abroad.
Anyshia Blinderman, from Blue Caribbean, spoke about digital marketing and the strategies they implement as a company. “Understanding market behavior, investing money to make money,” she said.
Yeranni Brea, from Remax Monumental, arrived brimming with energy and an entrepreneurial spirit. She began her presentation by prompting the audience to engage in a reflective exercise. “If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything,” she declared, quoting a famous author.
Having a purpose, discipline, and believing in yourself are part of the recipe that the coach recommends for achieving success in entrepreneurship.
Genaro Llamas of Inmo Caribe presented his revolutionary project "Larimar City and Resorts", not without first mentioning the economic splendor that, in his opinion, the Dominican Republic is experiencing and the opportunities that exist today.
He offered details of the city, which he explained will be Mediterranean-style, featuring artificial beaches, promenades, six hotels, and later, 15-story towers, all to be built on an area of 3.5 million square meters.
“A smart city to complement what Punta Cana is and create a new destination.”.
European and American universities, hospitals, a water park, one million square meters for green areas for practices and ecological living, are some of the benefits of the giant project that plans to break ground in September of this year.
With applause, words of satisfaction and a toast for networking, the second CENI Expo Forum, organized by El Inmobiliario and Ganar-Ganar, came to a close. “Zona Norte beats Dominican heart”.
