During the ten years that the legal framework for foreign investment has been in place in the DR, there has been investment of over US$15 billion in productive assets that are servicing the GNP. According to Listin Diario, the President of the Dominican Association of Foreign Investment Companies (Asiex), Alfonso Paniagua, divulged this information last night during a dinner hosted by the group. He stated that Asiex has created more than 150,000 jobs and detailed that the annual tax contribution of the member companies totals more than 35% of the national budget. Also, Asiex contributes to important areas such as environmental conservation, education, and the preservation of national customs and traditions. Asiex is preparing to contribute towards the competitiveness required by country’s insertion into new markets, stated Paniagua.