President Leonel Fernandez gave a luncheon for members of the press and told them that 2005 would be the year of the Dominican Republic’s “recovery.” This was the term he used when El Nacional’s editor-in-chief asked him to sum up 2005 in just one word. Fernandez was optimistic with regards to the future of the Dominican Republic and pointed to the renewed confidence that was created in his first 100 days in office. Among the broad range of topics covered in the informal conversation during the luncheon, Fernandez mentioned his belief that the Free Trade Agreement with the United States would be approved by the Dominican Congress and that the contentious 25% tax on soft drinks using high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) would be dismantled. He also mentioned the guarantees for foreign investors, saying there were two entities interested in investing in 750 MW generation units for local consumption and that members of his governmental team had already been to Dallas, Texas to talk with potential investors.