The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) forecast the Dominican Republic economy will grow 6% in 2001. This would be 2.5% less than in 2000, when the Gross Domestic Product grew 8.5%, the greatest in the region. The Governor of the Central Bank, Frank Guerrero Prats had said growth would be less this year because of the effects of the higher cost of petroleum purchases. ECLAC says that despite the slow down, the Dominican economy will continue to be the fastest growing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Venezuela, a major petroleum producer, is forecast to follow the DR, with a 5% growth in 2001, up from 3% in 2000.
