Secretary of State of Puerto Rico Luis Rivera Marín was in Santo Domingo last week to inaugurate Puerto Rico’s participation as guest “country” at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair. He was accompanied by the secretary of the Department for Economic Development and Trade (DDEC), Manuel Laboy; the director of the Tourism Company, Carla Campos; insurance commissioner Javier Rivera; the executive director of the Puerto Rican Culture Institute (ICP), Carlos Ruiz Cortés; and the director of the Office for Historic Conservation, Carlos Rubio.
The mission held different meetings with the Dominican government. The Dominican Ministry of Foreign Relations announced that during Rivera Marín’s visit two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) regarding investment and trade promotion were signed. One MOU creates a Joint Dominican Republic- Puerto Rico Council for Attracting Investment and Promotion of Projects and Exports. The effort seeks to integrate investment promotion policies of both parties to attract investment in strategic sectors and design training programs in export and investment.
A second MOU establishes cooperation and joint participation in US programs to promote an increase in exports to the United States. Puerto Rico commits to train Dominican personnel in regulatory matters and procurement. The Ministry of Foreign Relations says that under DR-CAFTA (US- DR-Central America Free Trade Agreement) there are opportunities to be had in US procurement of which the DR has taken little advantage.
30 April 2019