2007 – Page 97

President Leonel Fernandez, who is on a US tour, announced the hosting in Santo Domingo of a DR-CAFTA Summit with the participation of the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, signatories of the agreement, to evaluate first year results of the free trade agreement. The meeting would be held at the …

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Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso says that the DR is ready to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. So far, 12 rounds of negotiations have been held, and the agreement could be signed by 30 October and could be implemented as soon as 1 January 2008. Today, Cariforum will be meeting in …

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Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso has announced that effective 1 October consular services fees at Dominican consulates will be lower, in some cases reduced by 50%. Passports, which cost US$140, will now cost US$60. Tourist visas, which cost US$60, will now cost US$40. Legalizations will also be reduced but prices will depend on which document …

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President Leonel Fernandez said the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is willing to help train Dominican personnel who will work on the Santo Domingo Metro. He said that a cooperation and assistance agreement could be signed. Fernandez added that the proposed cooperation between the MTA and the SD Metro came about following an initiative …

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The executive director of the National Competitiveness Council, Andres van der Horst Alvarez has challenged Dominicans living abroad to encourage trade and development in their home countries, as expatriates have done for Ireland, Korea, Chile, Taiwan and Singapore. Van der Horst Alvarez was speaking during a panel discussion on DR-CAFTA, Trade and Investment, and Exports …

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US party politics and children’s health are indirectly affecting the Dominican tobacco industry and the DR must stand by and wait for a decision to be made. US President George W. Bush has announced that he will veto the bill, if approved by Congress, which seeks to increase the tax on cigarettes from US$.39 to …

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Hoy writes that Dominican beauty products are benefiting from the DR-CAFTA agreement. According to information provided by the Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD), in 2005 exports of Dominican beauty products were valued at US$2,876,275 while in 2006 exports had increased to US$3,319,502. Products like conditioners, shampoos, relaxers, highlighters, straighteners, vitamins and rinse are being …

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Octavio Lopez, director of Mining at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, says that the Dominican mining sector grew by 126.7% in the first half of this year. Lopez made his comments during the Inter-Governmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development that took place in Switzerland. Lopez highlighted the strength on the sector …

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The debate on abortion is picking up steam once again and the Catholic Church is reaffirming its stance against abortion under any circumstances. But in this latest bout, the Dominican diocese is asking President Leonel Fernandez to voice his opinion on the matter. At the Dominican Episcopalian Conference, Monsignor Ramon Benito de la Rosa y …

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The National Drug Control Department (DNCD) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seized a 200-kilo shipment of cocaine yesterday that was dropped from a small plane into the Bahia de Ocoa. DNCD spokesman Roberto Lebron says that the shipment was dropped from a Cessna airplane. The drugs were picked by the US Coast Guard, after …

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