President Leonel Fernandez returned from Spain yesterday evening after attending the XV Ibero-American Summit in Salamanca. During his trip, Fernandez met with important investors and potential investors, including the promoters of the controversial artificial island that is planned off Santo Domingo’s waterfront. The Spanish investors are talking about a US$300 million project.
During the summit, the proposal by Fernandez to exchange foreign debt for educational and social investments was widely accepted by the other government leaders. During his stay in Barcelona, President Fernandez held meetings with bankers, hotel owners and representatives of the electric sector, who all expressed interest in investing in the Dominican Republic. According to El Caribe, the President is canceling his trip to El Salvador where he was to meet with the Salvadoran President and the US Trade Secretary. Instead, he will travel to Argentina on 4 November to take part in the Summit of the Americas where he will have a chance to talk to US President George W. Bush.