The Fernández administration authorized the construction of the Aeropuerto Internacional del Cibao by a private sector group. Santiago businessmen will be investing US$30 million in the airport that will go up in Licey al Medio, in the province of Santiago. A high tech industrial park will be built next to the new airport. Angel Rosario, president of the Asociación de Empresarios de la Región Norte, made the announcement at the National Palace following a meeting with the President. Businessmen Poppy Bermúdez, Mario Cáceres, Felix García and José Clase accompanied him. The airport was authorized by way of a Civil Aviation Board resolution. The Santiago business sector had requested the construction of the airport for years, but the government has not been willing to fund the construction. Thus, the private sector has said it will build the airport. Construction is slated to begin in late February or early March. The airport promoters says the site places it 10 minutes either from Santiago or from Moca. The airport will thus serve both passenger and cargo needs of the Cibao area that today have to travel more than an hour to Puerto Plata to use the Gregorio Luperón International Airport.(17 January 2000)
