On behalf of the World Federation of Consuls, it is my honour today to present the FICAC award of Distinction to the His Excellency Carlos Morales Troncoso, Minister of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic.

This award is given to persons who have served with distinction in the development of their country and their fellow citizens. H. E. Carlos Morales Troncoso is a perfect recipient of this award having served his country and his people unselfishly for over four decades.

After qualifying as an engineer in the United States he returned to the Dominican Republic to serve in the all important Sugar industry to which he dedicated much of his adult and professional life working from the floor to its board room where he has served up to the levels of CEO and board Director.

Although he left the day to day operations of the sugar industry to pursue the Vice Presidency of the Dominican Republic he has not left it completely. He currently serves as Vice President of the Sugar Group of Countries of the Caribbean Basin (CBI Sugar Group).

He has also served with distinction in the Private Sector and has chaired various entities for the development of tourism, export processing zones, and the exercise of corporate social responsibility in the economic and social development of the country.

But it is his contribution to the political life where Minister Troncoso’s impact has been greatest. He served as Vice President and Minister of Foreign Relations between 1986 and 1994 under the leadership of President, Dr. Joaquin Balaguer. In addition to his duties as Constitutional Vice President of the Republic, he also served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Dominican Republic in the United States of America, based in Washington, D. C. during the period 1989-199O.

In August 2004 President Leonel Fernandez, recognizing his expertise in the field of Diplomacy appointed him Minister of Foreign Relations, the position in which he continues to serve.

For his work Minister Troncoso has won acclaim at home and abroad. In 1982, he was named “Businessman of the year” by Asociacion Interamericana de Hombres de Empresa, Inc. In 1982 he was named “man of the year” by the Dominican Chamber of Commerce of New York. He was named most distinguished graduate of the year in 1992 by Louisiana State University. He has been honored for his political work by China, Italy and Costa Rica.[2] In his home country, Minister Troncoso has received Duarte, Sanchez and Mella and the Christopher Columbus Heraldry Award.[4]

In March 2002 he published the first book “De lo Privado a lo Publico”, which depicts his life experiences in the private and public sectors.

Minister, congratulations on an exemplary life, today FICAC salutes and honours your contributions to improving your country and the life of your people, and we thank you most sincerely for the excellent support that you are giving to our member, the Consular Corps of the Dominican Republic.

We are therefore honoured to honour you Mr. Minister with the World Federation’s Award of Distinction.