El Caribe reports that on last Thursday, 27 September the government sent to Congress the contracts signed with European investors for the revitalization of the Ozama riverfront. The government signed a contract with Abira Financial Associates based in Athens, Greece for a pool of financing for the US$368 million project and another with Consorcio Rio Ozama headed by engineer Paolo Rotelli, an Italian connected to the Livorno Port Authority with family ties to the DR. The contract says the project will be carried out in four years. The first phase calls for an investment of US$180 million to clean up the river and construct 12,000 homes for area residents. Another US$188 million will be invested in roads, an ecological park, construction of docks and other works. The project is expected to create prime real estate values in land that is worthless today because of the slum-like environment.
