Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Margarida Méndez Bértolo arrived on Tuesday, 23 March 2021 for a two-day visit to boost Spanish trade and investments in the country. The economist says her visit is motivated by the new Abinader administration’s pro-business attitude and the outlook for a prompt recovery of the Dominican economy.
After the United States and Canada, Spain is the largest investor in the Dominican Republic. Most Spanish investments are in the tourism sector.
Méndez Bértolo met on day one with 15 Spanish companies. She is backing Spanish companies that seek to benefit from the new public-private partnership program launched by the Dominican government. She sees investment opportunities for Spanish manufacturing in free zones, farming and renewable energy.
The Dominican Republic and Spanish relations are covered by the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in 2008 between Caribbean countries and the European Union.
On her agenda are meetings with ministers of Foreign Relations, Industry & Commerce, Energy and Mines and several Spanish business people.
Her visit is coordinated by Spanish Ambassador Alejandro Abellán García de Diego. The Spanish Embassy tweeted that Méndez is visiting to meet with Spanish companies and provide support and learn about their concerns.
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El Dinero
Spanish Trade Ministry
24 March 2021