President Danilo Medina has announced that a business forum would be held in Santo Domingo as a follow up to the signing of 11 bilateral agreements with Puerto Rico. Medina returned from Puerto Rico at around 5:30pm yesterday, Tuesday 13 January 2015 after a day trip for the signing of the agreements to strengthen relations between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
First Lady Candida Montilla and 12 high-ranking cabinet members, including Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and Administrative Minister Jose Ramon Peralta accompanied the President.
The signing of the agreements took place at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan. Medina and Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla spoke of the shared links between the two peoples and described the agreements as fundamental steps forward.
President Medina told the audience that he did not believe in the diplomacy of high level summits, but in hard work, with one’s feet on the ground and listening to the hearts of the people and he was sure the Puerto Rican authorities shared his point of view.
The agreements are aimed at creating jobs and increasing trade between both countries making the most of DR-CAFTA. The main exports from the DR will be agro-industrial products, while Puerto Rico will export services and high tech products. The agreements will also support production links between Puerto Rican and Dominican industries.
In the area of higher education, two agreements were signed enabling Dominican students to study in Puerto Rico for the same fees as Puerto Rican residents, rather than international student fees. Another agreement establishes that the DR and PR governments will each contribute US$250,000 a year so that Dominican students can obtain scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Puerto Rican universities. Both governments promised to promote the teaching of English in the Dominican Republic, using a program to be implemented with the University of Puerto Rico.
As far as public safety is concerned, Puerto Rico will provide significant support to the Dominican Republic including bulletproof vests, weapons and equipment, while Puerto Rican law enforcement authorities will provide training for the Dominican police. The announcement of this agreement comes at a time when Puerto Rico, with a population of 3.7 million, is reporting a record low of 681 murders in 2014, a 40% reduction compared to the 1,164 recorded three years ago. Violent crimes are reported down 17% for the year.
Other agreements are aimed at promoting investment, protecting the environment and managing natural resources.
http://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/se-fortalecen-relaciones-bilaterales-rd-pr-danilo-medina-retorna-al-pais
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/dominican-republic-puerto-rico-boost-trade-tourism-security-ties-n285111
http://www.primerahora.com/videos/noticias/gobiernopolitica/acuerdosentrepuertoricoyrepublicadominicana-162809/