The Governor of the Central Bank, Hector Valdez Albizu said, in his talk during the American Chamber of Commerce July luncheon, that unemployment declined from 15.7 % in April 1997 to 14.3% in June of this year. He said that as a result of the increased economic activity, 200,000 more Dominicans have found jobs in less than a year and a half. Valdez Albizu also explained that the economic growth will continue. He said Central Bank statistics show there is an accumulated 6.6% growth rate for the first semester. The forecast for year end 1998 is that the Gross Domestic Product will surpass 7%, for one of the highest if not the highest in Latin America. He said the forecast for inflation during this year is between 6 and 7%. The Governor of the Central Bank said that in less than six months time, the government will have chosen the winner of the rights to exploit the gold deposits at the Rosario Dominicana mine in Cotuí. Companies from Canada, the United States and Australia have bid for the important exploitation contract. The bidding process is being handled by Salomon Brothers.
