Santo Domingo.- The governments of the Dominican Republic and the United States, as well as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, have approved the export of water coconuts and avocados, respectively. This move is seen as a major boon to the country’s agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture made this encouraging announcement, highlighting the positive impact of President Luis Abinader’s administration on agricultural producers in the country. Ibrahim Shaqir, head of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS-USDA), conveyed the approval through a communication addressed to the Department of Plant Health of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic, under the leadership of Rosa Lazala. A similar notification was sent to the government of Jamaica through the Dominican ambassador in that country, Angie Martínez.
The communication from APHIS said: “APHIS kindly confirms that the revised import requirements came into effect immediately, as mentioned in our letter dated August 22, 2023. We look forward to receiving the immature coconuts from the Dominican Republic without shell and without water or in the shell (with at least 75% of the green outer shell removed) and with water, in accordance with APHIS import requirements currently listed on our Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) website.”
Minister Limber Cruz expressed gratitude to his plant health and ACTO (Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) team for their diligent work in overseeing all aspects of export trade agreements. He recognized the immense business opportunity now available for the Dominican Republic thanks to these approvals.