A preliminary report prepared by the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD) shows that the Dominican Republic received US$1.167 billion in direct investments last year. This is a 44.3% increase over the previous year. After shrinking by 35% between 2003 and 2004, investments grew from US$649 million (down from US$1.005 billion) to US$1.167 billion by the end of 2005. Tourism displaced communications as the number one sector in receipt of foreign investments and mining came in third. According to CEI sources, the increase was a result of a healthy economic climate that spurred more interest in the tourism sector.