Foreign Relations Minister Miguel Vargas and the United States ambassador Robin S. Bernstein signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding official embassy dependents employment. The agreement will allow family members of diplomatic and consular personnel to work in the country, in observance of the laws and the norms of the state. The Dominican Republic has signed other similar memoranda with several countries.
Having signed the memorandum, Vargas explained that the two countries would work together as trusted partners who share values of justice, the rule of law and tolerance. Vargas went on to say that he and Bernstein had a common agenda and that they would deal with any challenges through dialogue and mutual respect.
Bernstein said this was the first agreement she had signed between both governments and was looking to deepen the bilateral relationship.
Foreign Minister Vargas highlighted that the United States is the main trade partner of the country with around US$13 billion in trade each year. In the first half on 2018, exports to the US from the DR increased by 11% over 2017.
Vargas noted that annual remittances were around US$4 billion from the US which was 80% of the total received in the country. Also, approximately 50% of the 13 million passengers using Dominican airports came from the United States.
From 2010 to 2017 American investments in the country surpassed US$3 billion. Finally, 1.8 million Dominicans reside in the United States while around 150,000 US citizens were residents in the Dominican Republic.
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Al Momento
31 October 2018
