The Ambassador of Germany in the DR, Eva Alexandra Countess of Kendeffy said that the government of Germany is carrying out 28 development projects with German cooperation for US$200 million. 42 German technicians are at present in the DR working on the projects. In an interview for Hoy newspaper, she mentioned the donations are helping build hospitals, potable water facilities, latrines, school repairs, small and medium-sized business and to preserve natural resources. Some RD$15.6 million is allotted to a school repairs program, underway with the local organization Pro Comunidad. The Programa GTZ is helping preserve natural resources and the environment. A RD$78 million German donation has been assigned to help rescue the Yaque del Norte River. RD$273 million is funding the construction of the second ring of the 138 kilowatt Substation II of Santo Domingo. RD$117 million are allotted to a small dams program, and to the Nizaito and Santana water channels. Basic education projects are receiving around RD$115 million. The German Friedrich Ebert Foundation is contributing RD$40.65 million to the formation of teachers and educational programs. The Friedrich Newmann Foundation is funding the Programa Cruz Verde organic farming project with RD$15.6 million. The Heinrich Boll HBS Foundation is providing RD$15.6 million to the Colectiva Mujer y Salud and another RD$31.2 million to Mujeres del Cibao, women’s health programs. The German Agro Action Foundation is channeling RD$31.2 million through the Dominican Development Foundation. The German Foundation Konrad Adenauer has in place a RD$31 million program for sociopolitical formation of Dominicans. In La Vega, RD$14 million in grants is helping with food programs for mothers and small children. The German Investment and Development Foundation provided US$57.7 million to help install the Smith-Enron power plant in Puerto Plata. The Central Handicraft Union of Germany (ZDH) has a program for RD$40.6 million to benefit the Confederation of Small and Medium-sized Business (Codopyme).
