Providence, Rhode Island Mayor David Cicilline signed a sister-city agreement with Santo Domingo on Sunday, as part of activities of his three-day trip to the DR that began on Saturday, 2 August. The plan is to foster economic
development and cultural exchange. The city already has strong economic ties to the Dominican Republic.
"Providence has more than 30,000 Dominicans and more than 150 thriving Dominican-owned small businesses in this city," Cicilline told Providence Journal. "That represents a sizeable and growing part of our economic engine and the future of this great
capital city of ours. The opportunities to grow that workforce and promote cultural links . . . are more important than ever."
During the trip, Cicilline met with Santo Domingo Mayor Roberto Salcedo and with Dominican President Hipolito Mejia at the Presidential Palace whom he had hosted at his home when Mej?a visited New England recently.
On Cicilline?s agenda also are meetings with the authorities of Puerto Plata and La Romana, according to press director Gonzalo Cuervo.
The city of Providence has a counselor Miguel Luna, a state representative (Leon Tejada), a state senator (Juan Pichardo) and Dilania Inoa serves on the Providence School Board, all born in the DR.
http://www.projo.com/metro/content/projo_20030801_psister1.3253a.html