Puerto Rican Secretary of Economic Development, Jorge Silva-Puras believes that island’s trade with the DR would increase by more than US$3 billion as soon as DR-CAFTA comes into effect on 1 January 2006. According to Listin Diario, Silva-Puras spoke after visiting the Senate together with Puerto Rican officials and lawmakers. He said that trade between the DR and PR is now worth around US$1.4 billion and that after the treaty comes into effect the two countries will lead the most powerful economy in the Caribbean region.