Dominican exports to Canada totaled US$283 million in 2012, with imports US$128 million, Dominican ambassador in Canada Jose del Carmen Urena Almonte told Listin Diario in an interview.
Central Bank statistics show Canada as the country from which the most direct foreign investment has come, with US$3.4 billion from 2009-2012, reports Listin Diario.
In the interview, the Dominican ambassador in Canada said that the DR has maintained a favorable trade balance with Canada for US$572 million from 2010 to the close of 2012. He said export of many items have increased since 2009. These include medical equipment (up 50.6%), vegetables and tubers (up 95.7%), citrus fruit, seeds and melons (49%), tobacco products (50.9%), footwear (9,109.2%), coffee and tea (144%).
Urena said that investments in telecommunications, software development, call centers and electronic component manufacturing have also increased.
The Dominican Republic wants to sign an agreement with Canada based on similar terms to the agreement signed with Europe. Urena said this would be a hybrid between the DR-CAFTA signed with the US and the European Partnership Act (EPA) signed with Europe. Canada is seeking a free trade agreement similar to DR-CAFTA.
Urena also said that Canada is the second largest source market for tourists to the Dominican Republic after the United States. In 2012, some 766,000 Canadians traveled to the Dominican Republic for their vacations.
www.listin.com.do/economia-and-negocios/2013/9/26/293672/Balanza-comercial-de-RD-es-positiva-con-Canada