Amidst rumors that there were “issues” surrounding the final signatures on the Petrocaribe Agreement between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, Industry & Commerce Minister Francisco Javier Garcia reassured reporters and editors from El Caribe that the agreement will be finalized “shortly.” The minister said that a ministerial-level mission would go to Venezuela for the final signing. The agreement will allow the Dominican Republic to access up to 50,000 barrels of petroleum per day with 40% of the invoice on long-term credit. Garcia said that the guideline document is in the country and as soon as it is signed it will be returned to the Venezuelan authorities for their signatures and the agreement would then go into operation. The document outlines such things as the management of the shipping of the products, whether these are to be crude or finished petroleum products, as well as the conditions of sale, the frequencies, the ships, how the purchases are to be made and the volumes. According to El Caribe, the agreement will allow the Dominican Republic to finance as much as 40% of its oil invoices from Venezuela, and the other 60% can be paid in goods and services from the DR. A ministerial mission, headed by Presidential Minister Danilo Medina will visit Venezuela shortly to identify just which Dominican products and services will be in greatest demand.