Florida's Governor Jeb Bush, who is also the brother of President George Bush, said that the vision of former President Leonel Fernández on the future of the Dominican Republic is very much like his.

He added that they both agree on how human capacity can be developed in order to progress as a State.

Bush spoke at Universidad Interamericana (UNIBE) during a September 16 event hosted by the Global Foundation for Development and Democracy (FUNGLODE) for the launching of the Florida-Dominican Republic Alliance, and the release of the book ´´La Construcción de una Alianza Estratégica´´ ("The Building of a Strategic Alliance").

Recently, two similar events were hosted in the State of Florida.

Bush said that nowadays there is a process, a new economic stage, which is more about the intellect rather than the hands-on experience.

"Failures and successes in the future are going to be determined by the mind and technological power, rather than labor" assured Governor Bush.

The US politician made emphasis on education to achieve goals, and that is why his administration has given education a preferred place in government programs.

In this regard, Governor Bush has instituted a program to rate public schools in the Sate of Florida, and those doing a good job are awarded a US$100 prize for each student.

He highlighted that in the room there were people who were going to work with the Global Foundation and Universidad Interamericana (UNIBE), in Santo Domingo, to provide opportunities for thousands and thousands of students.

He said that his administration is creating centers of excellence in order to have first-class technology in certain areas that are going to bring about wealth, prosperity, and opportunities for the next generation in Florida.

Bush emphasized the business climate created in his State, and said that there are certain States, such as California, that believe that they can raise taxes, create regulations, and impose more difficulties on the business sector, while making progress.

And after praising California's wealth, incredible human capacity, and huge natural resources, Bush pointed out that California's economy is in decline because it has taken the path of creating more difficulties for the private sector.

Bush expressed that such measures cause capital to move to other places where no penalties exist, unlike California, and that hurts the United States.

´´The US economy is at risk as a result of such a philosophy in just one single state," assured Governor Bush.

He said that while this happens in the State of California, in Florida ´´we have cut taxes, established clear regulations, protected the environment, not on the basis of relations that are impossible to meet.´´

Bush added that the same happening in a State may occur in a province, or country that pursues well-being for its citizens.

Bush sought the support of Dominicans so that Miami could become the host city of the FTAA Secretariat.

Finally, he said to be proud of and optimistic about the future of the Dominican Republic, a nation regarded by him as great one.

In spite of the risks, he stated, with the ability to compete and an educated and trained population, the prosperity of any nation that is willing to compete may be visualized.

LF introduces Jeb Bush

SEE LEONEL FERNÁNDEZ INTRODUCTION SPEECH VIDEO: Para Modem 56k ADSL

On the other hand, Leonel Fernández was in charge of introducing Governor Bush, and said that since colonial times a link exists between the Dominican territory and the State of Florida.

Such link, he added, potentiates even more in modern times, when we become aware of the strong tie, and great identity that exist between the Dominican Republic and Florida, economically speaking.

Fernández indicated that at present, our nation is the second leading trade partner after Brazil, as between Florida and the Dominican Republic, there is a bilateral trade flow of about 2.9 billion.

´´However the potentialities between the two geographic locations are huge," assure the former president. He underlined that "today we are lucky to have, for the first time, the Governor of the State of Florida in our country to share with us some ideas and thoughts about the Floridian-Dominican trade, economy, and exchange."

Ever since the establishment of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE), we, along with Florida International University, Daytona Beach Community College, and other Floridian Institutions, have joined efforts for the past two years toward the creation of a Floridian-Dominican association platform, the so-called "Strategic Alliance for Development."

LF Signs Two Agreements

At this occasion, Fernández, in his capacity as chairman and president of FUNGLODE, executed two agreements, one of which is an Alliance with J. Antonio Villamil, Chief Executive of the Washington Economics Group, Inc., and member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

The other agreement is a Strategic Agreement with Nelson Beltrán, Chairman of the Santo Domingo Entrepreneurial Council (Consejo Empresarial de Santo Domingo) and D. Kent Sharples, president of the Daytona Beach Community College. By way of such agreement, a Community College will be established in the eastern area of the city Santo Domingo, the so-called new Province of Santo Domingo.

Also participating in this project is the Dominican university UNIBE, which is the product of an Alliance between the State of Florida and the Dominican Republic, after two years of contacts and research in the US State and the Dominican Republic.

Governor Bush's talk was followed by a panel discussion on "Economic and Educational Links and Opportunities" presided over by Eduardo A. Gamarra, director of the Center for Latin America and the Caribbean at Florida International University.

Other panel members included Fernández, Darell Kelley, President and Chief Executive of Enterprise Florida; José de la Torre, Dean of the Alvah H. Chapman, Jr., Graduate School of Business, College of Business Administration, Florida International University.

Further, Abraham Hazoury, President of UNIBE, J. Antonio Villamil, Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Economics Group, and member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce; D. Kent Sharples, President of Daytona Beach Community College; María Crummet, Director of the Center for International Business, College of Business Administration, University of South Florida, and José Manuel Armenteros, President of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce.

SANTO DOMINGO, SEPTEMBER 18, 2003.

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