DR is a key point for technological businesses
Companies at the Cibernetic Park of Santo Domingo recruit high level personnel with c=knowledge of information technology and engineering. Among these are Caribbean Manufacturing Solutions, Telvent and Mannindia. The park already has 947 persons working there. The investment in infrastructure of the business complex is nearing US$80 million.
But why would a company of this type install itself out past the Boca Chica toll booths? Robert L. Smith, the operations manager of CMS, gives the answer: "the geographical location of the country and the close proximity to the Cincinnati headquarters". He pointed out that there is another factory in China but its distance makes things difficult. Plus, he said, there are the incentives that are offered by the Cybernetic Park for businesses to install their factories, and the human resources available in the country. Regarding the latter, he said that there are currently 30 employees of which three are Hindu. This month the employees will be increased to 60 or 80 for a project that will enter production in June of this year.
But the CMS is not the only certified foreign company that thought it was a good idea to locate in the eastern zone of Santo Domingo. And it is because the Cybernetic Park, that occupies 440,000 m2 and was created in 2000, has already invested US$80 million in infrastructure. There are already 26 companies operating there, divided into 12 international companies that occupy 2 large buildings, and 14 that are at the business "incubator" Emprende, with the idea of becoming large businesses.
These go from software developers and other technologies, to "call centers", human resource managers, and fabricators of auto parts.
According to the president of the PCSD, Eddy Martinez, there are 947 employees and the tendency is to increase over the coming months. He says that the salaries are competitive, ranging from RD$30,000 to RD$40,000 per month.
Although it is not a company that generates dollars per se, inside the PCSD is the widely recognized Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA). At the present time, there are 2,200 young persons are pursuing degrees there, and, in addition, there are some 120 students that are studying or have studied for Masters Degrees over the last three years at the extension of Stevens Institute of Technology.
"This is a successful model that promotes a culture of technological industrial parks. Education and in-service training, job creation and investment, promotion of entrepreneurship and social and scientific development all come together", said the president of the PCSD.
Software from the Orient
When the Hindu Roopan Shyam is asked why his business Mannindia (specialists in telecommunications software0 decided to establish themselves in this Caribbean country, the answer is, in essence, no different than that of the operations manager at CMS. In nearly flawless Spanish he says:"We know that Venezuela has problems, Colombia has a history of problems, Panama....costly, and Santo Domingo, perfect!"
And not without reason. The PCSD is located five minutes from the Las Americas International Airport and the Caucedo mega-port. At the same time the Las Americas highway give easy access to the capital.
The representative of Telvent Global Services has the same opinion. Telvent is another information technology company that is dedicated to projects in the energy, health, public administration, traffic and transportation areas. "For us, the Dominican Republic plays a role of strategic importance because of its geographical location. Of course, from the point of view of costs, for us it was a very valid option and we think that it has a beneficial system that favors us" says the Spaniard Carlos Delgado.
The executive also praises the fact that in the Dominican Republic there is a clear push for the country to become modern.
With the development of the information technology enterprises, the president of the PCSD is project that in three years the Dominican Republic will be exporting US$500 million in software.
Because of the economic crisis, last year was not so good for Mannindia, which employs 20 persons at their facility. However, for this year they are thinking of recruiting more trained personnel and so reach 100 employees and take care of a project that Caracas, Puerto Rico, the United States and others are expected to develop in the country. "Now we have a large project in the banking area, in Puerto Rico, and therefore we are going to need about 890 persons", he says.
Telvent also foresees going from 30 persons to 150 high level specialists in computer and electrical engineering employed this year and next.
Pilot solar panels
In this country with energy problems, would it be an adventure to try and create a solar panel for house or business? Since last November, the Fluitecnick Solar Company, which established itself two years ago in the PCSD, has "planted" what it calls a "photovoltaic solar garden" next to the side of their building. The "garden" provides energy to the building by means of 240 modules which produce 270 volts each.
According to the public relations person of Fluitecnick, Yodari Padro, the company, a subsidiary of a Spanish corporation, came to the Dominican Republic in 2007, taking advantage of the facilities of the Cybernetic Park and the Law 57-07 regarding Incentives for Renewable Energy and Special Regimes. Fluitecnick Solar was founded 19 years ago and only has factories in Portugal and the Dominican Republic.
The company takes advantage of the boom in renewable energy to sell its solar panels, in spite of the fact that they are not cheap. A solar panel such as one built by Fluitecnick, of 120 watts, is sold in the country for US$550. Another type, of 22 volts, that produces a kilowatt per day goes for between US$850 and US$900 each.
Padro pointed out that in order to install one of the technologies in an ordinary house, the person has to determine the daily energy consumption. An average house consumes between 15 and 16 kilowatts per day. Do you want to change? mamejia@ diariolibre.com
The Dominican Republic could export in three years US$500 million in software as a result of the high-tech businesses that are installed in the PCSD.
Businesses at the PCSD
Education and Training
ITLA, Stevens Institute of Technology, Contact Center Institute and Cyberpark Film School
Start-ups in incubation
Merkimport, Reenergy, Ashbox, 809 Studios, Aurora Wireless Technologies, Ltd., Conacen, Tau electronics, Fixadom, Hispano Sano, Medios Libre, Estufas GAIA, AirHybrid Technology, Gestacion Tecnologica Global.
Job Creators
FCM Injection Molding, Flujitecnick, Telvent, Stream, Terremark, Emprende, Caribbean Manufacturing Solutions, Penncro Associates S.A., Notola, Mannindia Technologies and Gennisource.
But why would a company of this type install itself out past the Boca Chica toll booths? Robert L. Smith, the operations manager of CMS, gives the answer: "the geographical location of the country and the close proximity to the Cincinnati headquarters". He pointed out that there is another factory in China but its distance makes things difficult. Plus, he said, there are the incentives that are offered by the Cybernetic Park for businesses to install their factories, and the human resources available in the country. Regarding the latter, he said that there are currently 30 employees of which three are Hindu. This month the employees will be increased to 60 or 80 for a project that will enter production in June of this year.
But the CMS is not the only certified foreign company that thought it was a good idea to locate in the eastern zone of Santo Domingo. And it is because the Cybernetic Park, that occupies 440,000 m2 and was created in 2000, has already invested US$80 million in infrastructure. There are already 26 companies operating there, divided into 12 international companies that occupy 2 large buildings, and 14 that are at the business "incubator" Emprende, with the idea of becoming large businesses.
These go from software developers and other technologies, to "call centers", human resource managers, and fabricators of auto parts.
According to the president of the PCSD, Eddy Martinez, there are 947 employees and the tendency is to increase over the coming months. He says that the salaries are competitive, ranging from RD$30,000 to RD$40,000 per month.
Although it is not a company that generates dollars per se, inside the PCSD is the widely recognized Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA). At the present time, there are 2,200 young persons are pursuing degrees there, and, in addition, there are some 120 students that are studying or have studied for Masters Degrees over the last three years at the extension of Stevens Institute of Technology.
"This is a successful model that promotes a culture of technological industrial parks. Education and in-service training, job creation and investment, promotion of entrepreneurship and social and scientific development all come together", said the president of the PCSD.
Software from the Orient
When the Hindu Roopan Shyam is asked why his business Mannindia (specialists in telecommunications software0 decided to establish themselves in this Caribbean country, the answer is, in essence, no different than that of the operations manager at CMS. In nearly flawless Spanish he says:"We know that Venezuela has problems, Colombia has a history of problems, Panama....costly, and Santo Domingo, perfect!"
And not without reason. The PCSD is located five minutes from the Las Americas International Airport and the Caucedo mega-port. At the same time the Las Americas highway give easy access to the capital.
The representative of Telvent Global Services has the same opinion. Telvent is another information technology company that is dedicated to projects in the energy, health, public administration, traffic and transportation areas. "For us, the Dominican Republic plays a role of strategic importance because of its geographical location. Of course, from the point of view of costs, for us it was a very valid option and we think that it has a beneficial system that favors us" says the Spaniard Carlos Delgado.
The executive also praises the fact that in the Dominican Republic there is a clear push for the country to become modern.
With the development of the information technology enterprises, the president of the PCSD is project that in three years the Dominican Republic will be exporting US$500 million in software.
Because of the economic crisis, last year was not so good for Mannindia, which employs 20 persons at their facility. However, for this year they are thinking of recruiting more trained personnel and so reach 100 employees and take care of a project that Caracas, Puerto Rico, the United States and others are expected to develop in the country. "Now we have a large project in the banking area, in Puerto Rico, and therefore we are going to need about 890 persons", he says.
Telvent also foresees going from 30 persons to 150 high level specialists in computer and electrical engineering employed this year and next.
Pilot solar panels
In this country with energy problems, would it be an adventure to try and create a solar panel for house or business? Since last November, the Fluitecnick Solar Company, which established itself two years ago in the PCSD, has "planted" what it calls a "photovoltaic solar garden" next to the side of their building. The "garden" provides energy to the building by means of 240 modules which produce 270 volts each.
According to the public relations person of Fluitecnick, Yodari Padro, the company, a subsidiary of a Spanish corporation, came to the Dominican Republic in 2007, taking advantage of the facilities of the Cybernetic Park and the Law 57-07 regarding Incentives for Renewable Energy and Special Regimes. Fluitecnick Solar was founded 19 years ago and only has factories in Portugal and the Dominican Republic.
The company takes advantage of the boom in renewable energy to sell its solar panels, in spite of the fact that they are not cheap. A solar panel such as one built by Fluitecnick, of 120 watts, is sold in the country for US$550. Another type, of 22 volts, that produces a kilowatt per day goes for between US$850 and US$900 each.
Padro pointed out that in order to install one of the technologies in an ordinary house, the person has to determine the daily energy consumption. An average house consumes between 15 and 16 kilowatts per day. Do you want to change? mamejia@ diariolibre.com
The Dominican Republic could export in three years US$500 million in software as a result of the high-tech businesses that are installed in the PCSD.
Businesses at the PCSD
Education and Training
ITLA, Stevens Institute of Technology, Contact Center Institute and Cyberpark Film School
Start-ups in incubation
Merkimport, Reenergy, Ashbox, 809 Studios, Aurora Wireless Technologies, Ltd., Conacen, Tau electronics, Fixadom, Hispano Sano, Medios Libre, Estufas GAIA, AirHybrid Technology, Gestacion Tecnologica Global.
Job Creators
FCM Injection Molding, Flujitecnick, Telvent, Stream, Terremark, Emprende, Caribbean Manufacturing Solutions, Penncro Associates S.A., Notola, Mannindia Technologies and Gennisource.
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