2008 – Page 222

While climbing fuel prices and the economic troubles in the US gave rise to fears that the Dominican tourism sector would experience a slump in 2008, the opposite has occurred. The Ministry of Tourism reported that in the first four months of the year, 1,430,034 visitors have come, that is 6.73% more than in the …

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During the past 15 years the DR has received a total of US$12.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI). This information comes from the Central Bank, the Dominican Republic Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD) and the Foreign Investment Association (ASIEX). In 2007 alone the DR received US$1.7 billion in FDI, slightly less than Costa …

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The Dominican Confederation of SMEs (Codopyme) is urging the Senate to pass the bill that creates a new framework for small and medium sized businesses in the DR. The bill passed in the Chamber of Deputies several weeks ago, but has not been put on the Senate agenda. The bill was sent to Congress from …

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The Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD) says that 57 call centers are currently operating in the DR. Eddy Martinez of CEI-RD feels that there is potential for the number of call centers to double in the next two years. He says that approximately 25,000 Dominicans are employed in call centers and forecasts that by …

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Slugger Manny Ramirez took one step closer to joining the 500-homerun club after clubbing his eighth homerun of the season last night. The Dominican-born star hit a shot in his first at bat against the Minnesota Twins to give him 498 dingers for his career. Ramirez’s homer wasn’t enough for the great team from Boston …

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During a track meet in Venezuela the Dominican track team ran well enough to collect seven medals, including three golds. The team ran during the Brigido Iriarte y Maximo Viloria meet during which athletes from 15 nations competed. The meet is one of many preparatory events in the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games in …

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Plaza Lama supermarket has green bananas for RD$2.95ea, carrots for RD$5.25lb, Barcelo tomatoes for RD$5.45lb, pineapples for RD$18.95ea, yuca for RD$17.45lb, chicken thighs for RD$24.95, and watermelon for RD$5.45lb. Jumbo has red onions for RD$6.95lb, squash for RD$4.95lb, carrots for RD$4.95lb, cantaloupe for RD$22.95, red grapes for RD$49.95lb, limes for RD$12.95lb, and green bananas for …

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The Central Electoral Board (JCE) tested hundreds of scanners yesterday and posted data from 11,135 polling stations in one hour. Over 6,000 of the documents came from polling stations and nearly 5,000 came from municipal election headquarters. The operation was held in the presence of the full board, representatives from all the political parties and …

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For the Friday, 16 May presidential election, 154,797 Dominicans in 11 countries have registered to vote, according to a report in Diario Libre. Of these, the largest concentration is in New York, with 37,907 registered to vote. Next are the Dominican communities in Spain, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Venezuela, Italy, Panama, Switzerland, Curacao, Canada and …

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For the first time in recent memory, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has ignored the rising price of a barrel of oil on the international market and kept the price of a gallon of gasoline at the same level it was last week. Hydrocarbon Law 112-00 pegs the price of fuel to international prices. …

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