Dominican stand highlights the country’s diversity

BREAKING NEWS: As a proof that the Dominican tourism advances and isn’t only is sun and sand, the delegation representing our country in the International Tourism Fair ITB Berlin was accompanied by a large representation of artisans, the Folkloric Ballet of Tourism Ministry and other representatives of what is part of our culture today.

Tati Olmos, cultural vice minister of tourism ministry highlighted the role played by artisans to create the Dominican stand of the ITB Berlin 2010, especially following the selection of Santo Domingo as American Capital of Culture.

The rich diversity has been well selected in this representation which reflects our customs, our culture, our traditions, there are master craftsmen who do outstanding work, and representation of the Folkloric Ballet, under the direction of Maestro Oscar Batista, impressed all the people who visit us, said Olmos.

Among the craftsmen is the Puello Crafts, which presented products recognized by UNESCO, as is the wooden rooster, a pioneer in this product, made in soft wood to facilitate their work by hand.

Samples of carnival masks were also shown, some were produced right in the stand, attracting the attention of general audience, which also was interested in acquiring some for their collections.

Taino Art by Esteban Guillen, who spreads the origins of our island, The Faceless Doll by Neo Art, one of the traditional icons of Dominican identity, and Butterfly Cup of Coco, also formed part of the products that drew the attention of everyone during the fair.

The Rizet Group and its Cocoa Trail Route, which by its history and importance as a producer and exporter, has become one of the complementary offerings of Dominican tourism, were also present.

Because the Dominican Republic is the largest producer of organic cocoa and the third largest exporter in Latin America, the Rizet Group created this route to show everything related to cocoa production from planting, through cutting, removal of grains, fermentation, and reached base for export and as farmers prepare for consumption as is the case of Chocolate Ball.

Alsocigar manufacturing was shown during the Dominican delegation, interesting not only smokers, but all the audience, who was curious to see how the experience of Luis Rodriguez enabled him to turn some leaves into a cigar for immediate consumption in a few minutes only.

The craftsmen were more than pleased to see the presentation of their products.

Dominican Republic Live, 31.03.10

Dominican enjoyed Holy Week

Beaches and water areas hosted a large number of vacationers

BREAKING NEWS: Thousands of people including foreign tourists enjoyed during the last three days the various resorts of the Dominican Republic, some of which were previously cleaned by the Ministry of Tourism, and were declared free of debris and contaminants.

Although in some points there has been sporadic rainfall, most of the tourist places had a deep blue cloudless sky with a bright sun. The economic crisis doesn’t seem to have limited vacationers, who have been moving from Wednesday to beach and provinces of the country.

Before the holiday, brigades of the Ministry of Tourism conducted a wide cleanup day and removed tons of debris that were primarily neat to the beach.

We have met the plan that we drew from the beginning so that vacationers and tourists find suitable beaches and resorts, comfortable and safe for recreation, said industry minister, Francisco Javier Garcia.

The cleaning program was conducted in the four regions of the country. The brigade also placed mobile toilets, trash cans and gave explanations on the need to preserve the environment and the ecosystem in the resorts.

In the Northern provinces Monseñor Nouel (Bonao), María Trinidad Sánchez (Nagua), Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí), La Vega, Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), Espaillat (Moca), Santiago, San Francisco de Macorís, Samaná, Puerto Plata, Valverde (Mao), Montecristi, Santiago Rodríguez and Dajabón were cleaned.

In the East region the clean-up covered the provinces of San Pedro de Macoris, El Seybo, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, La Altagracia (Higuey) and La Romana. The South region included the provinces of San Cristóbal, Peravia, San José de Ocoa, Azua, Barahona, Independencia, Pedernales, San Juan, Bahoruco and Elías Piña.

It also covered the beach and recreational areas of the province of Santo Domingo.

The operation was supervised by the Executing Committee of Tourist Infrastructure (CEIZTUR) and coordinated with other government agencies involved in the Easter Operation 2010.

Dominican Republic Live, 05.04.10

93% of tourists visiting the Dominican Republic repeat

According to survey Spendings and Motivation

BREAKING NEWS: 93% of foreign tourists who visited the Dominican Republic last year would like to come back to the country, according to the survey of Spendings and Motivation made by the department of national accounts and economic statistics of the Central Bank.

According to the survey, 87.3 percent of foreign tourists felt that the expectations of the trip were met. The survey captures the motivation and the point of views of non-resident strangers after their visit to the country, and its main objective is to monitor the degree of satisfaction of tourists.

The survey also seeks to know the following points: reason for visit, opinion about quality of beaches, weather, prices, hospitality, facilities and services in airports and hotels, catering and accommodation, sports facilities and local transportation, entertainment and shows, among other indicators.

The results of the survey in 2009 show that of all the 3,415,616 tourists who visited the Dominican Republic, more than 65% rated excellent / very good the quality of cleaning services, beach, food and hotel accommodation.

Local transport service received the lowest score, and concerning the prices, more than 66% considered them acceptable, which added to the 18% that rated them as low / very low, show a high degree of satisfaction, regardless of nationality of tourists.

This survey shows that the success of the tourism industry of the Dominican Republic is the result of the quality services provided to tourists by the continuous efforts made by the public and private sector to improve infrastructure, environment and tourism services in the country.

Dominican Republic Live, 06.04.10

Dominican Republic participates in Cairo fair

To present its products and culture to the Middle East

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Republic promoted dominican products and culture as the country participated for the first time to the Cairo International Fair, the largest in the Middle East, which receives each year about 4 million visitors and has become a great place for commercial and tourist promotion for all the countries in this zone.

It was a unique opportunity to promote our products and culture in the Middle East. Now, the goal for next year is to attract Dominican enterprises to Cairo so that they can sell and display their products in this new forum, said the Dominican ambassador in Egypt, Gabriella Bonetti.

Concerning tourism, the dominican mission started with the new slogan of the Ministry of Tourism Dominican Republic Has It All.
Also, there were meetings with major tour operators to present our Caribbean destination.

Concerning trade, the fair enabled to get closer with several companies in Egypt that have shown some interest for Latin America, including companies specialized in building materials, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products and imports of coffee and cacao. The presentation of Dominican products in the forty-third version of the show was done in a shared area with other Latin American countries that have embassies in Egypt.

The Minister of Industry and Trade of Egypt, Rashid Mohammed Rashid, inaugurated the event in the International Exhibition and Convention Center of Cairo with the assistance of 1, 300 exhibitors and an exhibition area of 410 thousand square meters.

Mr. Rachid visited the stand freely installed for the embassies of Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) by the General Organization for International Trade Fairs and Exhibitions in Egypt, where he met with diplomats and Latinos living in Cairo.

Dominican Republic Live, 07.04.10

World Economic Forum on Latin America 2010

Dominican Republic will have an important role in this event

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Republic will have a leading role in the World Economic Forum on Latin America 2010, held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with the participation of political leaders, heads of international organizations and senior representatives of business and financial sector in the region.

The plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Latin America2010 was inaugurated on Wednesday by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, and President of theWEF, Klaus Schwab German, who said the most severe economic crisis of last years was almost over.

At the meeting in Cartagena de Indias, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the impact of the crisis in the region and growth prospects will be discussed until Thursday.

Two speeches will have a great importance: the one of Dominican President Leonel Fernández in a panel on the situation in Haiti after the earthquake, and the one pronounced by Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso, who will be one of the panelists on the subject Can Latin America feed the world ?

During the meeting, Dominican Foreign Minister Morales Troncoso will share the discussion table with Daniel Maldonado, vice president and general manager of Bunge Latin America, Manuel Andres, president of Nestlé of Colombia, Berdegue Mariano, president of Monsanto Company for the Andean, Central America and Caribbean region and Enrique Dominguez Lucero, general director of the Confederation of Mexican Pork Producers.

In addition to the Dominican head of state, the presidents of Colombia, Guatemala, Panama and Paraguay have confirmed participation in the World Economic Forum on Latin America, as well as more than 500 entrepreneurs from China, Canada, Europe, Japan, USA and Latin America.

Energy integration, productive investment, combating crime, reducing inequality and new opportunities for cooperation are among the topics to be discussed during the meeting in Cartagena de Indias.

The World Economic Forum is a nonprofit foundation based in Geneva, which is supported by 100 corporations, and is known worldwide for its annual meeting in Davos (Switzerland). The event brings together top business leaders, international politicians, journalists and intellectuals to discuss the world’s most pressing problems.

Dominican Republic Live, 08.04.10

Colombian President is very interested in energy projects with the Dominican Republic

Leonel Fernández cites major needs for Haiti’s recovery

BREAKING NEWS: Colombian President Alvaro Uribe expressed his concern that his country continues to work with the Dominican government on an energy agreement signed by the two nations, which includes the installation of a submarine cable to provide power the country.

President Uribe made these considerations during a bilateral meeting held with President Leonel Fernandez prior to the opening of the World Economic Forum for Latin America 2010, that takes place in presence of five Latin American presidents, dozens of business leaders, politicians and intellectuals.

On this occasion, World Economic Forum Latin America 2010, was led by the President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, and the President of Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, President of Guatemala, Álvaro Colom, President of Panamá, Ricardo Martinelli, President ofand Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, as well as the Forum director, Klaus Schwab.

The bilateral meeting with President Uribe was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Morales Troncoso, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas and Rafael Núñez, director of Information, Press and Publicity of the Presidence. 

On behalf of the Government of Colombia, were present Luis Guillermo Plata, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism; Miguel Camilo Ruiz, vice minister of foreign affairs, and Alicia Arango, private secretary of the Presidency.

On the other hand President Leonel Fernández raised the need of all sectors of Haitian society to be involved in the recovery of the country and its progress in the future.

President Fernández urged the need to strengthen the institutions of Haiti and to develop a viable and long term reconstruction plan and a clear vision of the future in terms of economic, social, scientific and cultural development, once the relief phase will be completed.

He said the combination of all these factors will attract investment and public-private partnership that will bring a sustainable development in Haiti in the medium and long term.

Mr. Fernández welcomed the suggestion of the Executive Director of the Economic Commission for Latin America (CEPAL), Alicia Bárcena, who asked in the World Economic Forum to allow verification of the National Development Plan prepared by the Dominican Republic, known as 20-30.

The president said that the investment required by Haiti is multifaceted and is aimed at all sectors by building schools, hospitals, public buildings, bridges, roads.

On the other hand, highlighted the need for companies of all sorts get involved in the restoration and revival of Haiti to provide an opportunity to make that nation rising from the ruins.

The president expressed his opinion on the panel  New Horizons for Haiti which took place during the afternoon on Thursday in celebration of the fifth version of the World Economic Forum on Latin America 2010 takes place in this city yesterday.

Dominican Republic Live, 09.04.10

Dominican Republic Tourism is very present in Brazil

Participate in events CVC Workshop, Nasturica, Braztoa

BREAKING NEWS: Dominican Republic, through the Tourism Promotion Office in Brazil, has presented its attractions to the Brazilian public during three major events in the first quarter of this year. Thanks to a successful participation, the Caribbean destination has attracted further attention of travelers and tourism professionals in Brazil.

In February, the Tourism Promotion Office in Brazil was in the CVC Workshop 2010, which is the fair of the main Brazilian tour operator. With distribution of promotional materials to travel agents and a paradisical decoration, the Dominican stand was one of the most visited of the event.

In March, the event Nasturica featured an exclusive room for Dominican Republic, where travel agents received information while they were able to travel to the country through the institutional video destination.

This year, the country that has it all hosted a luncheon for over 300 participants of the event, which brings together all major destinations and travel agents of the tour operator Nascimento Turismo.

Also in March, the OPTof Brazil participated in the fair Braztoa, one of the major tourism trade in Brazil to present its tourist offers, hotels and services.

According to Nodalia Arias, Assistant of Tourism and Promotion Dominican Republic in Brazil, the success of the destination in Brazil events can be measured by the public interest and the many requests of information from how to travel and what to do in the country.

Events like this are very important as they enable us to distribute information to travel agents who sell our product. The Brazilians are discovering the wonders of the Dominican Republic and the goal is to be the most popular destination for holidays in the Caribbean.

Dominican Republic Live, 12.04.10

President Leonel Fernández received the President of Principality of Asturias

Asturian entrepreneurs interested in investing in Dominican Republic

BREAKING NEWS: President Leonel Fernández received this Monday in his office at the National Palace the President of the Principality of Asturias, Vicente Álvarez Areces, who announced that Asturian entrepreneurs are interested in investing capital in different areas of the Dominican Republic.

After the meeting with the president and government officials, Álvarez Areces said that among the projects to be developped in Dominican territory, there is the construction of a biodiesel plant in the south, with an investment of $ 40 million that will impact positively on employment creation.

He said that investors are also interested in building a waste treatment plant in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, for which it has a portfolio of 12.5 million Euros through the Water Fund.

The president of the principality of Asturias said other projects could be promoted in the country in areas of construction of parts and accessories for vehicles, Agrofood, public works, industrial and communications, among other areas of national development.

He said that during his stay in the country he was going to meet with the Minister of Public Works and Communications, Victor Diaz Rúa, and the First Lady of the Republic, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, to promote programs to benefit both nations.

Vicente Álvarez Areces described the meeting with President Fernández as fruitful and friendly, and said it will yield to positive results in bilateral and trade relations between the province of Spain and the Dominican Republic.

He added that in his first official visit to the country seeks to open a new path of great expectation for both communities, while citing that the treatment he received from the Dominican head of state was magnified and full of kindness.

He highlighted that in the Dominican Republic is a historically strong presence of Asturias citizens, who came from the past century to the Caribbean nation, strengthening the links between the two nations.

Dominican Republic Live, 13.04.10

Government receives grant of 2 millions dollars made by Taiwan

For foreign trade management

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican government received from the government of Taiwan a donation of two million dollars for the strengthening of the management of foreign trade in the Dominican Republic, through the Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD).

As he provided the information during a press conference in his office at the National Palace, the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Temistocles Montas, was accompanied by the Ambassador of Taiwan in Dominican Republic, Isaac Tsai, and Eddy Martinez, executive director of CEI-RD.

The financial resources donated Tuesday by Taiwan government will be used in a program to strengthen management of foreign trade in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Montas said that the two millions dollars are part of a project grant of 50 millions dollars, that will be disbursed over a period of four years.

The first disbursement for the year 2009 was 12.5 millions dollars, and was released on the basis of projects presented by several government institutions such as the CEI-RD, the official said.

For his part, Isaac Tsai said the plan is part of the institutional strengthening of the CEI-RD, by training human resources and facilitating the implementation of market-oriented studies, both in order to attract exports and investment. Moreover, it will enable to learn about the experience of Taiwan in foreign trade and development of industrie.

Isaac Tsai hoped that a strategic alliance will be established between the productive sectors of Taiwan and the Dominican Republic.

For his part, Eddy Martinez, executive director of CEI-RD, considered that the resources donated by the Taiwanese government were seeking to support the positioning strategy and international image of the Dominican Republic, through the development and articulation of the Country Brand strategy.

Also, Martinez said that he will create a Strategy of Systematic Integrated Economic Development, including bilateral trade tactics between Dominican Republic and Haiti, in order to strengthen exports and investment.

Dominican Republic Live, 14.04.10

Dominican Republic, golf capital in the Caribbean

A rapidly developing tourism market

BREAKING NEWS: The Vice-Minister of Tourism for the International Promotion of the Dominican Republic, Magaly Toribio, said that the Dominican Republic was currently the capital of the Caribbean in terms of golf courses. This is why the country is working now on promoting this attraction in different nations, such as United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, among other destinations.

We are working strategically to increase the level of tourists who visit us, and for that we are developing some markets. The attraction of golf is a perfect way to attract more tourists to the main tourist centers in the country has expressed Ms. Toribio.

The official noted that the Dominican Republic was leading tourism development in the Caribbean with the best possible international vision and the opening of new tourist promotion offices in major tourist source markets.

In this regard, shed stressed that the Russian market has grown steadily in recent years, a situation that reveals the strength of the Dominican tourism industry. At a time when countries like Spain or England, traditional markets for the destination Dominican Republic, have financial problems that have diminished the flow of travelers, these falls have been compensated by the increase of new markets.

Promotion Office in Washington will be the fourth one in the United States, and we are planning to open two more in Boston and Atlanta, which would mean we will cover the entire the country. In the case of Canada, we have two offices in Toronto and Montreal; we maintain five offices in South America, and in Europe, new openings reflect a strategy that has been rising recently. We started working the markets of Eastern Europe and now we are opening new offices, said Toribio.

Dominican Republic Live, 15.04.10

World Bank expressed satisfaction with Solidarity Program

It has contributed to human development of its beneficiaries

BREAKING NEWS: Officials from the World Bank (WB) expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the Solidarity Program, during a training given to Solidarity Community Links in San Pedro de Macoris.

Carine Clert, who heads the World Bank commission, congratulated 1.456 persons that act as Links of Solidarity Program in their community and who are trained simultaneously throughout the country for the certification of responsibility of the program beneficiaries.

They also emphasized the integration of the 481 000 families benefited from this social initiative of the Government.

We are here impressed by the quality of program, because it certainly has contributed to human development of its beneficiaries, and you, the links, work with the most important part : the members of families who receive benefits from this program said Clert in the presence of the director general of Solidarity Program, Fernando Reyes.

For his part, the director of Solidarity Program said the World Bank’s financial support on this program enabled it to become an opportunity of knowledge transfer while ensuring a greater emphasis on human capital among beneficiaries.

The committee of the World Bank, was composed by Helena Ribe, Manager of Social Protection, Concha Steta, adviser, Ludovic Subra, Social Protection Economist, Alfredo Sarmiento, Targeting Systems consultant, Timothy Cheston, research analyst, among others.

Dominican Republic Live, 16.04.10

Jet Blue Airline will increase flights to Dominican Republic

This will represent an increase in the number of tourists

BREAKING NEWS: Jet Blue Airline will add two more flights from United States to Dominican Republic and vice versa, which will represent an increase in the number of tourists visiting the country.

This was announced by Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia, during a courtesy visit he made to Jet Blue president, Dave Barger, in his office.The new route will start operating from May, 6^th and will link the cities New York-Punta Cana and Boston-Punta Cana, which will increase tourist arrivals from these two points of United States.

Mr. Javier Garcia said that since the government shall provide all facilities necessary for the airline to increase its flight numbers, and opening new routes.

Dave Barger, JetBlue’s president, said he was pleased with the reception of the Dominican Republic, and the expectations that were created by the announcement of new services offered, which will add to the twenty-one flights existing today.

Barker also told the minister of tourism his interest in continuing in increasing the number of flights, not only from the United States, but also from Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands, especially from Puerto Rico.

For her part, Magaly Toribio, vice minister of International Tourism, said the Ministry of Tourism will continue to support initiatives that facilitate the increase of tourists arrivals.

Jet Blue began operations to the Dominican Republic in 2007, and it currently operates 21 flights arriving to the airports of Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata and Samaná, offering several options for tourists who visit the country.

Dominican Republic Live, 19.04.10

Latin America, Caribbean and European Union willing to become global partners

Looking to develop regional integration

BREAKING NEWS: American and European politicians called for a common agenda between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union in order to strengthen its relations beyond the bi-regional approach and to become global partners.

Iberoamerican Secretary General, Enrique Iglesias, the Spanish Secretary of State for Latin America, Juan Pablo de Laiglesia, former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, and the chief of staff to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, Alberto D’Alotto, opened today in a Madrid hotel the seminar From Rio de Janeiro to Madrid, a decade later.

Organized by the Secretaría General Iberoamericana (SEGIB) and the European Union, the forum exposed the balance and prospects of relations between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean through summit which goal is to foster regional integration.

Enrique Iglesias made a review from the first summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1999 and set goals to be achieved at the Sixth Summit of Heads of State and Government of Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union to be held in Madrid May the 18^th.

He spoke of working for a common agenda between the two regions and noted that Latin America has good opportunity to give a quantum leap forward with new opportunities and instruments of cooperation with Europe.

Asserting that there is a broad range of economic, political, social and cultural interests that will enable it to advance, and said he hoped that during the month of May the trade agreements between the European Union, Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and Central America, will be realized.

Mr. Iglesias said that the experience gained in recent years in Latin America enabled it to become a region open to the international scene with new doors, new markets and new dividend, with a significant growth potential.

Europe could look at the relationship with Latin America under this perspective, he said, before insisting on the ability to manage the current economic crisis and the dialogue and cooperation.

Climate change, migration, terrorism, energy, employment, training, technology and innovation are issues on which European Union and Latin America can work together.

Dominican Republic Live, 21.04.10

Minister for Tourism and Air France sign an agreement

Promotional partnership in 18 countries

BREAKING NEWS: The French airline Air France and the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic signed a cooperation agreement for another year to promote the country in 18 European countries, which include now three new countries : Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.

The Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia and Ms. Francine Heymonnet, vice president of marketing for Air France, signed the agreement which runs from April first 2010r to May the 31^st, 2011. Véronique Moulin, Nicolas De La Porte, Air France’s regional representative in the Dominican Republic, Petra Cruz, Director of OPT Germany and Isabel Vasquez were also present.

As he welcomed the representatives of Air France, Fransisco Javier Garcia said the partnership agreement is part of the projects of the Tourism Ministry of the Dominican Republic which aim to promote a permanently, actively and positively the country.

With this agreement with Air France we will be promoting the Dominican Republic in 18 European countries, emphasizing the extraordinary work that develops Air France, a job that will not only be developed in Air France aircraft, but also on television, in movies, on billboards, which will contribute greatly to the growth of tourism in the Dominican Republic, said Javier Garcia.

He also said the agreement signed with Air France puts the Dominican Republic to the forefront as one of the countries who want to maintain the flow of tourists to the country who travel on quality airlines like Air France.

For her part, Francine Heymonnet said the earlier agreement of 2009 has resulted in an increase of five percent in sales volume from Europe to the Dominican Republic, which she described as an agreement has been an example of great success. She said last year, Air France transported 210 000 passengers to the Dominican Republic, which means a five percent increase compared with the previous year.

She highlighted that Air France has been operating flights to the Dominican Republic for 21 years and currently carry a total of 12 flights weekly, including one or two per week from the West Indies.

Dominican Republic Live, 22.04.10

Leonel Fernández wants concrete actions for Haiti

World Conference on the Future of Haiti will be held in Santo Domingo

BREAKING NEWS: President Leonel Fernández on Wednesday ratified the commitment of the Dominican Republic in the reconstruction of Haiti, and concrete actions must be developed in this country.

In this regard, the head of state said that the Dominican Republic and Haiti must transform the World Conference on the Future of Haiti to be held on June the 2^nd in Santo Domingo, in the commitment of the international community with specific and concrete initiatives in each area.

M. Fernández said that the projects that need Haiti devastated by the earthquake of Jan. 12, have been cited and discussed, and now it is time to define the specific works, their cost and identify funding.

The president made these statements at the end of the third edition of Dominico-Haitian Global Forum, held at the headquarters of the Foundation for Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE), whose central theme was For the Preservation of Haitian Culture and National Heritage after January the 12^th, 2010.

We have to transform this Congress, in the commitment of the international community with concrete and specific initiatives in each area, for example concerning the territorial dimension of development poles, it has been said that Haiti needs to build roads, that’s a generic statement, well let’s say now what road we will build, as the one that goes from Puerto Principe to Leogan, or from Port au Prince to Gonaives, how many miles has that road, how much it costs to build this road, with what money it will be contructed, said Fernández.

He added that projects of medium and long term must be realized trough international cooperation.
This does not happen overnight, we assume it is a plan, as a project to share, that will seek funding from governments, international institutions, but what we will make it together, and on that basis we know that we can achieve the vision, the dream of a Haiti able to turn tragedy into hope, a Haiti that can transform its present misfortune into the starting point for its great development in the future, he said.

In this regard, he urged both countries to try to understand and share their culture, history, values.

He said that on June the 2^nd will be held in the country by the World Conference on the Future of Haiti, and May the 18^th and May the 19^th will take place in Madrid, Spain, The Summit of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. Both conference will mean the culmination of the analysis and planning processon the situation of Haiti.

Were present during this conference the rector of the University of Haiti Quisqueya, Jacky Lamarque, the historian Daniel Suplicce, the general director of the National Archives of Haiti, Jean Wilfrid Bertrand, the director of the Museum, Pantheon, Robert Paret, the director general of the National Library of Haiti, Francoise Beulieu Thybulle, the Director of Bilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, Inocencio Garcia, and the Dominican ambassador in Haiti Ruben Silié.

Haiti’s ambassador in the country, Fritz Cisnea, the rector of the Autonomous University of Mexico, Jose Narro.

Dominican Republic Live, 22.04.10

47.5 million Euros for bilateral projects in Haiti and the Dominican border

Officials meet with Commissioner for Development of the European Union

BREAKING NEWS: Government officials held a meeting Thursday with the Development Commissioner of the European Union, Andris Piebalgs, where he announced the release of 47.5 million Euros to develop bilateral projects in Haiti and the Dominican border.

The information is provided Piebalgs and the director of the European Funds for Development, Domingo Jimenez, during a press conference in the National Palace Orlando Martinez, after a meeting with Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Juan Temistocles Montas.

Andris Piebalgs, who will meet with Haitian President Rene Preval, said the European Union for the reconstruction of Haiti is a priority and that the international body is the largest donor with a commitment to work with 1, 600 million infrastructures.

The European Commissioner stated that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss concrete projects for the border. He stressed that the European Union has plans to provide substantial support to the Haitian government.

The high representative of the European Union will sign tomorrow in Haiti five financing agreements for approximately $ 250 million and give the first piebald for the construction of the City Administration. He said these resources would also be used in the construction of the Puerto Principe – Cap Haitien road, with support to municipalities and civil society.

For his part, Domingo Jimenez explained that at the meeting, at the request of Commissioner Piebalgs, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development made an assessment from the report released by the International Monetary Fund and the projection of economic performance.

Spanish ambassador in the country, Diego Bermejo, Estefano Muucervici, Director General for Development, Irene Horejs, responsible for the European Union in the Dominican Republic and Jonathan Pits, director of communications were also present.

Dominican Republic Live, 22.04.10

Central Elections Commission develops a campaign to teach how to vote

Simulation of sending and receiving data via scanners

BREAKING NEWS: The Central Elections Commission (Junta Central Electoral) in the coming days will begin a campaign to teach citizens how to vote in the May 16^th elections, as announced the president of the Administrative Chamber of this entity.

Dr. Roberto Rosario explained that although these elections can be considered as complex, the Dominican population will be better prepared. Rosario estimated that between 60 and 70% of the population will vote on May 16^th.

Roberto Rosario said that the preparation of the election is advanced by 95%.

The Administrative Chamber of the Central Elections Commission (JCE) conducted a simulation on Sunday concerning the scanning, referral and receipt process of voting records from different polling stations.

The event, held at the Central Elections Commission, was made to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system to be used on May 16^th for sending and receiving records with computers.

The drill was led by the chairman of the Administrative Chamber, Roberto Rosario and other judges from the JCE.

Rosario highlighted the safe delivery of data. Meanwhile, Franklin Frias, director of Computing of the JCE , ensured that before midnight May 16^th about 70% of the votes will be on computers.

Dominican Republic Live, 26.04.10

Meeting between Haiti and the Dominican Republic entrepreneurs

With the goal of promoting bilateral trade and Haitian reconstruction

BREAKING NEWS: Entrepreneurs of Haiti and the Dominican Republic met Monday in Santo Domingo to plan together how to boost bilateral trade and reconstruction in Haiti.

At a time when the international community has pledged 9.9 million dollars in aid to Haiti, devastated by the earthquake of January the 12^th, the businessmen of both countries proposed agreements and partnerships to boost production in Haiti.

With the advent of financial support opening a couple great opportunity to invest in Haiti, said Temistocles Montas, Dominican trade minister, before a hundred businessmen and officials from both countries.

If it goes well in Haiti, it goes well in the Dominican Republic, stressed M. Montás referring to the fact that both nations are on the same island and that their economy are very linked.

The director of the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD), Eddy Martinez, detailed the earthquake made the Dominican exports to Haiti decrease by 38% between January and February, compared to the same period of 2009.

According to statistics of CEI-RD, Dominican exports to the Haitian market in 2009 reached a record $ 647 million in the formal market and 300 million in the informal market, which means Haiti was ranked as the second largest trading partner of Dominican Republic after the United States.

M. Montas opened on Monday the forum where entrepreneurs discussed during two days of bilateral projects and received training on the tendering and contracting mechanisms of the UN agencies involved in rebuilding Haiti.

The Dominican government will propose the creation of incentives and tax exemptions to promote free trade zones on both sides of the border, bilateral trade and tourism areas.

We’re going to insist on both governments to lower tax rates on the air to create tourist corridors linking the two countries, told Haydee Kuret, president of the Association of Dominican hotels.

Mrs. Kuret announced that the Dominican hotels have begun to negotiate the opening of tourist routes between the beaches of this country with the cultural attractions of northern Haiti, such as the Citadelle and Sans Souci Palace, as a way to create jobs and boost the economy of both nations.

Mathias Pierre, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Principe, stressed the need to create production platforms between the two countries, in order to gradually replace international aid by foreign investment.

To do this, M. Pierre invited Dominican businessmen to invest in agriculture, textiles, tourism and education.

The international aid is diluted if it does not create productive capacity, coincided Andrés Van der Horst, director of the Dominican Competitiveness Council.

According to a United Nations study, the earthquake leftUS $ 7.754 million of economic losses in Haiti, a figure which represents 121.3% of gross domestic product in 2009.

Dominican Republic Live, 27.04.10

The arrival of American tourists in Dominican Republic grows by 13%

They represent 59.90% of foreigners entering in the country

BREAKING NEWS: Despite the financial crisis that affected the United States, American tourists remain leaders in terms of visits to the Dominican Republic in March, reaching a growth of over 13 percent over the same period last year, said Minister of Tourism.

Francisco Javier Garcia said that according to Central Bank numbers in the first quarter of this year the segment of American tourists counted for 59.90 percent of foreigners who entered the country.

He highlighted that this numbers mean that we had an increase in American visitors of 33 000 777 tourists compared to last year, which means a growth of 13 percent.

This year’s performance has been higher than last year because we had seven months of continuous growth since last September until March, which means that we are growing about 3.5 percent, said the official.

Although the crisis started in the United States, Americans continue to choose the Dominican Republic, reaching up 13 percent more on march, compared to the same period in 2009.

M. Javier Garcia said that these statistics give us a proof that we are one of the most important destination of the Caribbean and Latin America .

Dominican Republic Live, 28.04.10

Dominican Republic first destination for foreign investment

According to the British company Barclays Capital

BREAKING NEWS: The British company Barclays Capital, a leading global investment banks, defined Dominican Republic as the prime destination for foreign direct investment in its latest research, called Emerging Markets Research, published in this month of April.

For Eddy Martinez, director of the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD) Barclays Capital report confirms the safety of foreign investments in the country, which has maintained for 4 consecutive years a sustained growth, which placed us as the fastest growing economy in Latin America during the past 2009 years.

The finance company had emphasized the importance of the 800 millions dollars investment of mining project Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation (PVDC) made. This project should invest another 3 billions until 2011, becoming the largest foreign investment in the history of the Dominican Republic.

According to the Barclays Capital report, the 9.9 billion dollars that the international community will donate for the reconstruction of Haiti until 2012 will pass through the country, attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI) and will be an engine national economic growth.

Last year, with Foreign Direct Investment in relation to GDP was of 4.8%, Dominican Republic ranked third in Latin America, only behind Panama (6.3%) and Nicaragua (7.6%) according to the Emerging Markets Research.

The CEI-RD director understands that success has been twofold because it was a tough year globally, but the privilege of becoming an important investment destination gave us the opportunity to have an impact on employment and social investment.

Recently, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), also placed Dominican Republic among the Front Runners, along with China, Britain and Chile, a category that brings together the countries with the best conditions for investment. For the CEI-RD, these results mean certainty that in 2010, the country will be consolidated as the region’s economic leader.

Dominican Republic Live, 29.04.10

Dominican Republic has established itself as a luxury destination

Tourist is demanding quality, service

BREAKING NEWS: The country is establishing itself as a luxury tourist destination and tourists who come to the island are demanding quality, service, stated the president of Asonahores, Haydee Kuret de Rainieri.

It is important then the creation of niche markets in countries like ours. At present, tourism development strategies at international level are being reviewed, because the tourists have changed their demands on holiday and new destinations have opened with huge investments in promotion. Competition is getting harder. We all have to change said the president of Asonahores.

Kuret said that the Dominican Republic has facilities that are mostly excellent, and currently works hard in the field of infrastructure, in order, with the objective of arriving at better rates, which in turn are not absurd but balanced and fair.

Years ago we started turning towards luxury market, and we have five or six hotels that have followed that path, and which are not all inclusive.

All inclusive luxury hotels have also opened.

Dominican Republic Live, 30.04.10