They propose to create a regional observatory on gender and competition during an international forum

Santo Domingo.- The president of the Board of Directors of the National Competition Defense Commission (Pro-Competencia), María Elena Vásquez Taveras, proposed creating a regional observatory on gender and competition with the purpose of making visible the impact of the equitable participation of women in the economy. 

“La promoción de la competencia es una herramienta poderosa para recuperar el valor económico perdido debido a la desigualdad de género. La evidencia es clara: cuando las mujeres participan plenamente en la economía, todos ganamos”

, expresó Vásquez Taveras.

Vásquez Taveras mentioned that, according to World Bank estimates in 2018, gender inequality represents a loss equivalent to 2.2% of the Dominican Republic’s gross domestic product (GDP). That is why policies are needed to promote the full participation of women in the economy.

“Esta cifra no es meramente estadística; representa oportunidades perdidas, innovaciones no desarrolladas y crecimiento económico no realizado”, manifestó.

The President of Pro-Competencia indicated that this forum is a historic opportunity to lead globally in the development of methodological frameworks and practical tools that demonstrate how competition and equity reinforce each other. In line with this, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and SMEs, Ito Bisonó, stated that “a strong economy must also be an equitable economy.”

“Superar las barreras que pueden estar enfrentando hoy muchas mujeres empresarias y trabajadoras en los sectores productivos en nuestros países representa un acto de justicia y, al mismo tiempo, una oportunidad para aumentar la innovación, la productividad y el crecimiento sostenible”,

manifestó Bisonó.

The minister indicated that this forum is a starting point for new alliances, new ideas, and transformative decisions such as the initiatives that have been promoted by the ministry, such as the Roadmap for Closing Gender Gaps in the Local Manufacturing Industry 2025-2028, which guides industrial policies towards a more equitable participation, as well as the Executive Program in Female Leadership, in alliance with the School of Industrial Organization of Spain, EOI. The Permanent Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), Clarems Endara, stated that it is imperative to integrate the gender perspective into competition policy because women often face barriers to entry into key sectors such as finance, energy, infrastructure, and technology. “Markets must be open and fair to all. Economic opportunities should not be dictated by gender. That’s why we are gathered here to address the urgent issue,” he stated. The event also featured the participation of María del Pilar Canedo, senior expert of the Competition Division of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Carolina Lozano, competition expert and international consultant; among other national and international experts.

About the forum

The second International Forum on Gender and Competition was held with the purpose of meeting to promote competition as a fundamental pillar to ensure that women have the same opportunities as men in the market, thus contributing to creating a more competitive environment without the inequalities that limit the potential for economic growth. The meeting, organized by Pro-Competencia, SELA, the OECD, and The George Washington University, brought together competition policy authorities and experts from Spain, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, among other countries in the region.