The Mejia Government signed two contracts for US$368 million, or RD$6,000 million, for the cleaning up of the sides of the Ozama and Isabela rivers with two Italian groups. The riversides make up the largest slum areas in the capital city, with an estimated population of 300,000, for a density of 1,000 people per hectare. This compares to 100 residents per hectare in the rest of the city. The project, now pending congressional approval, calls for the construction of 12,000 dwellings, a marina, an ecological park and a giant sewage treatment plant. Abira Financial Associates will lend the government US$180 million, with a 23-year term, at a London InterBank Offering Rate (LIBOR) of 1.75%. By way of another contract, the government will sell riverside land for US$188 million. In addition to Abira, other participating entities are the Livorno Port Authority and the newly created Consorcio Rio Ozama (Ceas-Conesca). Rafael Calderon, Technical Secretary of the Presidency, signed for the Dominican government. Consorcio Rio Ozama was represented by Paolo Rotelli and the Livorno Port Authority by Geovanni Mota. Recently, former mayor of Santo Domingo Rafael Corporan, who is an advisor to the President, presented a similar project sponsored by Southern Cross (Switzerland,) IFB International (Germany, Bayter (Turkey) and Acei (Colombia).
