The German embassy in the Dominican Republic announced the successful conclusion of the bilateral inter-government talks regarding German cooperation from 2005-2008 to the DR held in Santo Domingo 15-16 June. The German government announced it will allot allot EUR9.5 million for the Protection and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources primarily in the river basins of the Yaque del Norte and Artibonito rivers in the border region with Haiti. “In the border area, the degrading of natural resources and a high concentration of poverty come together, and thus there is the opportunity to promote binational transborder cooperation and the development of a new culture of peace through the waters,” explains the German embassy in a press release.
The German delegation leaves open the possibility of an allotment of EUR7.6 million of previous funds to new initiatives as well as a debt swap for environmental projects to the tune of EUR2.9 million.
As of 2005, Germany has made available more than EUR226 million for bilateral cooperation and finances, or around 25% of the European Union cooperation with the DR. Over 2002-2007, the European Union has programmed donations of EUR260 million to the DR.
Germany also makes important contributions to multilateral organizations that work with the DR, such as the World Bank, Interamerican Development Bank, United Nations Development Program and the International Monetary Fund. Germany also backs regional programs for the prevention and control of HIV-AIDS.
The visiting mission, head by Heinrich Dehn, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation’s director for Central America and the Caribbean., also participated in the signing of a EUR17.9 million low interest long term loan for the installation of a second electrical ring of 138kv in Santo Domingo, linking Itabo to the west of the city with the UASD/Paraiso and Matadero circuits and from the east, Timbeque II via Cesar Nicolas Penson to Metropolitan circuit in the center of the metropolitan zone.
See http://dr1.com/news/2005/061605_138kv.pdf