In Havana on April 28, the Dominican Republic and Cuba agreed to explore the possibility of a partial scope trade agreement.
Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Ileana Nunez, and Cesar Dargan, the Dominican Republic Deputy Foreign Minister for Commercial Affairs and Trade Negotiations, agreed a joint study focused on strengthening economic and commercial relations, the conclusions of which they said will inform their governments on whether they should forge a strategic economic alliance and build much stronger trade ties.
The signing took place in the margins of a Cuba-Dominican business forum involving one of the largest business missions the Dominican Republic has ever taken abroad. It included 40 executives from leading Dominican companies as well as senior public sector officials. It was an initiative, Mr Dargan said, that reflected the desire by Dominican business to rapidly strengthen economic ties with Cuba.
Both countries also agreed to diversify bilateral trade in specific goods and services, and promote complementary investments. In addition, Rafael Canto Blanco, the President of the Dominican Republic’s powerful National Business Council (CONEP), said that joint cooperation and investment in tourism could become an area from which both countries could mutually benefit.
The visit follows reports last month that work is progressing on studies on the creation of a new Caribbean economic block that might bring together Puerto Rico,
