Investors from the United States and Spain lead in the DR, according to a report from the Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD), as reported in El Caribe. The report says the country has attracted US$9 billion in foreign investment over the past five years. Registered investment is:
United States: US$5.06 billion
Spain US$3.05 billion
Canada US$2.82 billion
Mexico US$1.75 billion
UK US$978.6 million
France US$836.2 million
The Netherlands US$752.5 million
Panama US$362.3 million
US Virgin Islands US$283.5 million
Venezuela US$255 million
Grand Cayman US$211
Italy US$173.6 million
Germany US$109.1 million
Foreign investment has been mainly concentrated in the tourism sector (18.6%), commerce/industry (17.1%), telecommunications (15%), real estate (14.7%), electricity (11.3%), finances (5%) and free zones (4.8%). Eddy Martinez, director of the Center for Export & Investment, forecasts that foreign investment should total US$2.5 billion-US$2.7 billion this year.