Trade between Italy and the Dominican Republic has grown steadily in the last two years, representing a 231% growth since the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008.
This was reported by the Italian ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Stefano Queirolo Palmas, when interviewed by journalist Lorenny Solano for the program “Dominicana Buenas Noches”, assuring that Europe is the second largest trading partner of the DR at the international level.
“The EPA has marked a before and after in the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between Italy and the Dominican Republic, it doubled in the last two years,” he said in reference to the fact that commercial activity between the two countries has gone for the better.
He stressed that both countries have important advantages that can be used to promote a relationship beyond trade and cited, among others, the extradition agreement to collaborate in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.
Queirolo also said that other treaties will be signed to support the country in its fight for police reform and the judicial system, and an agreement for film production will also be ratified.
Regarding the participation of the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Giorgio Silli, in the 28th Ibero-American Summit, which was held last March in Santo Domingo, he added that through this instance, commercial and friendly ties were further strengthened.
In this sense, he revealed that Silli plans to return to Dominican soil next August, to be part of the second session of the bilateral political dialogue between the two countries and “we are going to review together with the Government, the bilateral agenda, which includes so many new, interesting and promising things”.
He detailed that in the next few days a group of architects from that country will arrive in the Dominican Republic, with the purpose of restoring the Alcazar de Colon, as well as the facades of thirteen churches located in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo.
“Significant assistance will also be given for the training of people interested in the maintenance of historical heritage, in order to maintain and take advantage of the UNESCO qualification.”
He also announced the entry into the Dominican Republic of several Italian companies linked to renewable energy and other areas, such as the new cement production line, parallel to the existing one in Sabana Grande de Palenque, San Cristóbal Province. This line will have quality standards and this material can be re-exported throughout the region.
On another subject, when asked about his position on the Schengen visa exception for the benefit of Dominicans, he said that a naturally long process must be exhausted, which will conclude in Brussels and that it cannot be foreseen when it will end.
“The process is European and has to be negotiated in Brussels and all the countries that are part of the Exchangen system have to agree and it takes time. A process of rapprochement also entails an adaptation of the systems”.
Source: Elcaribe.com
