The cement industry generates more than 10,000 jobs in the Dominican Republic
Taken from Diario Libre
SANTO DOMINGO - The cement industry in the Dominican Republic is made up of six companies with an approximate investment of US$1.27 billion and an installed capacity of 7.8 million tons.
According to the diagnostic study "Sustainability of the Cement Industry in the Dominican Republic", the country produces 5.1 million metric tons of cement and the demand for cement in the country is around 4.4 million metric tons approximately.
The industry sells cement in bags 75% of the time and in bulk 25%, and exports 11% of its production.
In addition, it generates more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, of which 96% of the staff are Dominican.
The objective of the diagnostic study “Sustainability of the Cement Industry in the Dominican Republic” is to analyze the instruments and processes of companies to incorporate environmental, social and economic aspects into their business; and thus have detailed information on the sector regarding its contribution to sustainability in the Dominican Republic.
“Business sustainability is a cross-cutting theme in the strategies defined and promoted by the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD),” said Circe Almánzar, executive vice president of the AIRD.
He said that industrialists are aware that, without the creation of economic, social and environmental value in the medium and long term, it is very difficult to guarantee economic growth, competitiveness, the permanence of companies, and their profitability.
“Producing and doing business is just as important as the framework in which we develop them,” he explained.
He added that sustainability is a social commitment, but it is also a commitment to the permanence of the industry, its contributions to the society in which it carries out its activities, the profitability for its partners, the generation of jobs, in short, the economic and social well-being to which we all aspire.
He stated that the companies that make up the Dominican Portland Cement Association (Adocem) exhibit the highest possible international standards, which allows us to say that they are sustainable industries.
“In the study you will be able to learn about the industry's governance, quality standards, the strategic value it places on employment, social investment practices, environmental care and compliance with environmental regulations, commitment to the circular economy and co-processing, support for conservation and biodiversity, the handling of safety in its production processes, health, among many other aspects,” explained Circe Almánzar.
Félix González, president of Adocem, spoke at the event, stating : “At the beginning of this year, we set out to obtain specific indicators, together as a sector, on the other elements that make up sustainability, not just those related to the environment and climate change. In that spirit, we carried out this first sustainability study, which we are presenting today. It includes indicators that are fundamental to our continuous improvement processes, because we have always understood that what is not measured cannot be controlled, much less managed.”
