President Fernández is Certain the Strategic Alliance with Puerto Rico Will Open Doors to Commercial Interchange

The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico sealed their alliance to strengthen commerce, promote economic growth, employment and development. Dominican President, Leonel Fernández, and Puerto Rico Governor, Luis Fortuño, are committed to supporting this initiative with the objective of taking advantage of the commercial benefits offered in DR-CAFTA.

Fernández stressed that “the only way to overcome this current crisis is being creative, imaginative and establishing alliances that help in the design of a development strategy.”

At the signing ceremony of the Alliance, held in the Mayor’s Office of Aguadilla, Fernández and Fortuño reiterated their intention to take advantage of other free trade agreements signed by the Dominican Republic with other countries and blocks of nations such as the recent agreement with the European Union Economic Association and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM), reported the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

At the meeting, Fernández stressed that “the only way to overcome this current crisis is being creative, imaginative and establishing alliances that help in the design of a development strategy.” He underscored, as a basic point in the joint declaration, the programs developed by Puerto Rico and the DR in the energy sector.

“To grow we need to move toward renewable energy projects and energy independence,” expressed Fernández.

Within the Alliance, the two leaders will carry out alternative energy programs to develop such options as ethanol, biodiesel and renewable energy.

In the area of commerce, Fernández and Fortuño agreed to undertake meetings with the private sector to strengthen economic exchange, identify mutual investment opportunities and to establish strategic business and commercial alliances.

Fortuño expressed his intention to travel to the Dominican Republic this year with a group of business and commerce people interested in buying and selling of products and services.

The Governor of Puerto Rico said the renewal of the agreement will present a wide range of opportunities that “will benefit all citizens” through the development of various common programs and projects. He added that Aguadilla’s mayor, Carlos Méndez, is developing a project to modernize the waterfront which, in his view, will have repercussions in the strengthening of interchange with the Dominican Republic.

As a symbol of brotherhood and solidarity between both people, they chose the figure of Eugenio María de Hostos. Fernández and Fortuño agreed to foment the vision of multiculturalism as did this great thinking from the Caribbean.

Following the signing of the declaration of Strategic Alliance DR-PR, Fernández and Fortuño gave a joint press conference to members of the local media.

President Fernández is Certain the Strategic Alliance with Puerto Rico Will Open Doors to Commercial Interchange

President Fernández is Certain the Strategic Alliance with Puerto Rico Will Open Doors to Commercial Interchange .

President Fernández is Certain the Strategic Alliance with Puerto Rico Will Open Doors to Commercial Interchange