From Jamaica Observer

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (CMC) — The Dominican Republic is looking at ways to revitalise exports and investments with Jamaica and other countries in the English speaking Caribbean.

According to the president of the Roundtable of Commonwealth in Dominican Republic, Fernando Gonzalez Nicolás, the English speaking Caribbean consumes around US$30 billion dollars in imported products and services yearly.

Speaking at the opening of a seminar  – “How to do business with Jamaica”, on Wednesday, Nicolas said the Dominican Republic exports only US$180 million in products to Jamaica and other English speaking countries in the region.

He said there is need for strong ties with the main economic conglomerates in the region.

“If we, the Dominican Republic, create business relations with Grace Kennedy and Jamaica Producers of Jamaica; Goddards in Barbados; Massy and Ansa Mcal in Trinidad; Demerara in Guyana and other of the Caribbean’s most important consortiums, we could secure that part of the market of this zone in a more effective and economic manner.”

Gonzalez also said that in recent weeks the  government has prioritised trade relations with member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and expressed support for president Danilo Medina’s new policy towards the Caribbean.

“This seminar is an initiative to contribute to raise awareness in the government and the private sector that the Caribbean markets are natural with those of the Dominican Republic, and that the experiences we acquire with them can be valuable to conquer other international markets in more distant places in the world,” he said.

Among the measures González cited to revitalise exports and investments in the Caribbean figure the organisation of more joint official-private sector trade missions, as well as organising Santo Domingo events to attract buyers and investors from the region.

He added that the trade areas of the embassies in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago must be activated, as well as participate more actively in regional fairs, to showcase Dominican exports.

For more on this story go to: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/DomRep_seeks_ways_to_trade_with_Jamaica,_other_Cbean_countries_?profile=1228&template=MobileArticle