The Dominican Republic expects to export 330,000 tons of bananas by the end of this year, according to information released by Luis Ramon Rodriguez, the Minister of Agriculture. He attributed this dynamic performance by the sector to the freedom of access that the producers have to the European market and the other nations that are signatories to the Cotonou agreement with the European Union. According to Rodriguez, more than 51,000 people are employed in banana production, and two-thirds are Haitian nationals. Rodriguez made his comments at the closing ceremony of the regional seminar with representatives of banana producers from the Caribbean region that are benefitted by the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) which is sponsored by the European Union.