President Leonel Fernández concluded his two-day official visit to Colombia. In a joint declaration, both Fernández and President Andrés Pastrana committed to strengthen dialogue and promote friendship ties between both nations. They agreed to work for the signing of a bilateral free trade agreement. During the visit, President Leonel Fernández offered the collaboration of the DR as facilitator to contribute to the peace process between the guerrilla and the Colombian government. President Fernández signed five cooperation agreements and two financing agreements for a total of US$43 million. The financing will be used for the Tres Saltos hydroelectric project that will increase irrigation in the central region farm areas. Financing will also be used to build low cost housing. Cooperation agreements were signed in tourism, education, justice and diplomacy. President Fernández said there is the possibility that Colombian investors will participate with Dominican investors in the construction of the nation’s first natural gas plant.
