President Luis Abinader signed the agreement for the implementation of the Comprehensive Tourism and Urban Development program for the Colonial City. The Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union are funding the program. The IDB funding was approved in December 2016 and only now will be implemented. The US$90 million loan (DR-L1084) calls for revitalizing the urban, economic and cultural tourism aspects of the Colonial City by restoring public spaces and historical monuments, improving the habitability for residents, developing local economies and strengthening the management of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. The EU is donating EUR3 million, as reported.
The Abinader administration is adding funds to renovate the Columbus Park and the El Conde pedestrian street.
During the presentation yesterday in an event at the Columbus Park, the government said the project will be carried out in 14 months.
Tourism Minister David Collado, National District Mayor Carolina Mejía, Culture Minister Carmen Heredia and the director of Monumental Heritage Juan Fortunato Mubarak Perez and the representative of the IDB Miguel Coronado signed the agreement. Also signing were representatives of the EDEEste electrical utility, the Santo Domingo Water Corporation (Caasd), the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), the IDB and telecom providers.
The project is phase two of the renovations to the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. The IDB had financed a first US$30 million project (DR-L1035) for the tourism development of the Colonial City.
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Listin Diario
El Caribe
26 August 2021