Minister of Agriculture Eligio Jáquez announced the construction of a US$60 million produce market at Km. 22 of the Autopista Duarte. Construction of Merca Santo Domingo will start in November. The market is expected to be in operation 18 months later. Merca Santo Domingo will replace the chaotic Mercado Nuevo (Avenida Duarte). The Dominican state is contributing the 1,200 tareas lot and will have a 51% participation in the market. The Spanish company that runs Merca Madrid will be the operator and will own 25%. Jáquez expects transactions at the new market to reach one million tons of food products in its second year. He said the market will be the largest exhibition of beef, pork and poultry as well as seafood, fish, fruits and vegetables in the Caribbean. The new market also has the support of the Municipality of Santo Domingo. (4 September 2000)
