Santo Domingo.- Agribusiness and retail sector representatives yesterday hailed the government's willingness to auction off import permits for products included in the technical rectification, through the Dominican Agribusiness Board’s (JAD) Agribusiness Exchange.

Eric Rivero, head of the national agro producers grouped in Confenagro, and Luis Taveras, of the Mercado Nuevo vendors union, agreed that the formula fosters transparency on imports based on the needs of each product and prevent imports on a whim which hurt local farmers.

"In this manner the operation is transparent and not left to the whim of an Agriculture Minister or of any official managing such imports to benefit friends and colleagues or business sectors that deal with imports which know nothing of agriculture production," Taveras said.

Rivero said the provision adopted via Decree 569-12 responds to industry demands against the "chaos of fraudulent imports, in addition to preventing corruption that has occurred in the past."

Rivero also lauded president Danilo Medina for instructions to regulate the true import demand, ensuring quality rating and the rural producers’ participation.