Dominican tourism

Revisit Where Dominican Republic's Tourism Started

The North Coast Boasts Unique History, Natural Beauty and Exciting Activities

Kiteboarding in Cabarete. (PRNewsFoto/Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism is encouraging travelers to visit one of the first cities to capture the attention of tourists, Puerto Plata. 

The area's long stretches of unspoiled beaches, spectacular scenery and blends of history and adventure make it the perfect destination for every interest.  This versatile Caribbean playground has developed dramatically since it initially caught the public eye nearly 40 years ago. Packed with affordable and adventurous activities, and with the upcoming completion of the modern Amber Cove Cruise Center on the Bay of Maimon, the city is ready to welcome an influx of visitors.

 

"Puerto Plata's an enchanting province where culture, history and nature collectively create an atmosphere fit for free-spirits," said Magaly Toribio, Marketing Advisor for the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. "Whether visitors surf along the coastline, experience energizing nightlife, feel the rush of the region's waterfalls or visit the Amber Museum, it will be an unforgettable escape."

Revisit the destination that had it all first and enjoy an incredible array of activities:

Water Sport Wonderland: When it comes to water sports, your selections are limitless. Cool breezes and gentle swells make Puerto Plata a world-renowned area for kitesurfing, wakeboarding and windsurfing. Visitors are drawn to Cabarete, the popular town recognized as the world's kiteboarding capital because of its warm waters and trade winds. Snorkelers gravitate toward Sosua, a small town where the water is decorated with spectacular coral reefs and a wide variety of fish. 

Adrenaline Adventures: 

The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua is nature's waterpark that features a series of spectacular waterfalls. Courageous visitors are encouraged to slide down natural water chutes or jump in the waters' peaceful pools. Those who prefer activities outside of the water can take a 30-minute scenic drive from Puerto Plata to Yasika Adventure Park and zip-line up to 30 mph at heights of 100 feet.

Golf Greens: Puerto Plata has three expertly-designed golf courses framed by the region's striking scenery. The Playa Dorada Golf Club, designed by world-renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., is in the Playa Dorada Resort Complex and known for its outstanding conditioning and greens. Los Mangos Golf Course is a diverse 18-hole course with nine sea views located in the Costambar residential development. Playa Grande Golf Course in Rio San Juan cuts into the cliffs overlooking the ocean with lush land and royal palms neighboring the course. No matter your skill set, Puerto Plata's courses are fit for both champion and leisure players. 

Exciting Culture:

 Puerto Plata is an area with unbelievable architecture through which visitors gain insight into Dominican Republic's incredible history. Housed in an epitome of Victorian architecture known as Villa Bentz, is Puerto Plata's Amber Museum. It showcases some of the world's best and most rare amber collections dating back millions of years. While amber is one of Dominican Republic's staple products, so is its rum, which is often referred to as the world's best. The Brugal Rum Distillery produces more than one million liters of white and dark rum each year, and offers free guided tours. 

 

Download our Puerto Plata brochure and visit www.GoDominicanRepublic.com for more information.  

About Dominican RepublicDominican Republic's first tourist was Christopher Columbus in 1492. Rich in history, Dominican Republic has developed into a diverse destination offering both Dominican and European flavors to approximately five million global visitors in 2012. Named #1 Golf Destination in Caribbean & Latin America by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, Dominican Republic boasts 28 designer golf courses, upscale resorts, pristine nature reserves, sophisticated cities and quaint villages filled with friendly Dominican people.  Dominican Republic features the best beaches, fascinating history and culture, and is a chosen escape for celebrities, couples and families alike.  

Visit Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism's official website at: www.GoDominicanRepublic.com.

Follow us on Twitter @GoDomRep. Like us on Facebook GoDominicanRepublic

Facts about dominicans in USA..

Dominicans were part of one of the largest migratory booms of the late 20th century. This migratory boom is made evident not just by the presence of Dominicans as an ethnic group, but from the Hispanic/Latino community in general.

An estimated 1.5 million Hispanics of Dominican origin resided in the United States in 2010, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Dominicans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Dominican origin; this means either they themselves are Dominican immigrants or they trace their family ancestry to the Dominican Republic.

Let me tell you some facts:

•  Immigration status. Nearly six-in-ten Dominicans (57%) in the United States are foreign born compared with 37% of Hispanics and 13% of the U.S. population overall. Most immigrants from the Dominican Republic (63%) arrived in the U.S. in 1990 or later.
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•  Educational attainment. Dominicans have higher levels of education than the Hispanic population overall. Some 15% of Dominicans ages 25 and older—compared with 13% of all U.S. Hispanics—have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree.

•  Language. A majority (55%) of Dominicans speak English proficiently.³ The other 45% of Dominicans ages 5 and older report speaking English less than very well, compared with 35% of all Hispanics.

•  Regional dispersion. Eight-in-ten Dominicans (79%) live in the Northeast, and nearly half (48%) live in New York.

 In considering those who are of Dominican ancestry this figure would almost certainly be much higher. And of all registered ethnic groups from Latin America, Dominicans make up the third largest group, after Mexicans and Cubans.


What characterizes Dominicans as an ethnic group in the United States is that they, unlike other groups that have come to the US, haven’t assimilated in the same way. Remittances from Dominicans in the US amount to an estimated 2 billion dollars a year, second only to Salvadoran remittances, which indicates a strong connection to the land of origin. Dominicans in the US also carve out particular enclaves within American cities, and tend to segregate themselves from other Hispanic and non-Hispanic groups. This is made evident by communities such as New York’s Washington Heights, which has the largest per capita concentration of Dominicans in the US

Spanish is the language of choice for most Dominicans, and another aspect that is characteristic of Dominicans is that they, unlike many other ethnic groups, refer to themselves as Dominicans, and not Dominican-Americans. Cubans, whether born in the US or not, call themselves Cuban-Americans, Puerto Ricans are referred to as Puerto Rican-Americans (or Nuyoricans in some cases), and Mexicans born in the United States are referred to as Chican@, all reflecting a joint level of pride for both heritages, but Dominicans have yet to embrace this as part of their identity.

They are ultimately very nationalistic, and the resounding idea among many Dominicans is that they are only in the US for limited periods of time in order to make money. Dominicans are inherently tied to their roots, and hold an overwhelming level of pride towards their culture and customs, which they aren’t willing to give up easily.

The situation for Dominicans in the United States is changing. With the growth of a more educated and skilled second generation, and an emphasis from within the Dominican community to integrate, it is only a matter of time before Dominicans become a more prominent part of American society, leaving behind the tainted image they have; though this won’t be easy. In the process, the Dominican community must come to terms with the creation of a bi-cultural generation of youth that is unable to find its own voice, while at the same time providing disenfranchised young people with the assurance that they are accepted members of both the Dominican and American communities.

Alongside the cultural struggles that face the future progress of the Dominican community is the advancement towards economic prosperity that can only further consolidate stability for this ethnic group

Porfirio Rubirosa, the Ultimate Playboy in history

PORFIRIO RUBIROSA | 

LAST OF THE FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL PLAYBOYS

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Much has been written, speculated and whispered about the man, Porfirio Rubirosa.  One thing is for sure, he led a life that few can imagine, let alone rival.  Truth is always stranger and more interesting than fiction, especially in this case– the infamous and always dapper diplomat, skilled sportsman and legendary lothario.  Pass the (eh-hem) pepper grinder, please.

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The infamous playboy Porfirio Rubirosa with his Polo ponies.

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Porfirio Rubirosa – Rubi to his countless conquests and to grateful headline writers across the globe – stood head and shoulders above the rest of this international pleasure pack. Rubirosa, the Dominican Republic’s answer to Pepé le Pew, provided the model that others could only emulate.  A tireless presence at chic nightspots and watering holes, a keen race-car driver and polo player, a friend to the rich and infamous, a relentless pursuer of women with huge bank accounts, he went on a lifelong tear that ended, fittingly, with a spectacular car crash in 1965 after a night of heavy drinking at a Paris club. Even his 28-year old wife – his fifth – agreed that Rubi would have wanted it that way.

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Porfirio Rubirosa loved fast cars and loose living, and sought rich women to support his playboy lifestyle.

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Porfirio Rubirosa loved to be behind the wheel.

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As Shawn Levy amply documents in “The Last Playboy,” his bubbly, breathless and appropriately inconsequential biography, Rubirosa worked hard at having fun.  Well into his 50′s, when he crossed paths with the Rat Pack, he set a pace that few could match.  Sammy Davis Jr., wrecked and staggering after a night on the town with Rubi, ran into his host the next day at lunch.  Rubirosa, none the worse for wear, was leaning against the bar, elegantly turned out and casually sipping a Ramos gin fizz.  Davis asked him how he did it. “Your profession is being an entertainer,”  Rubirosa said. “Mine is being a playboy.”

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Porfirio Rubirosa, the life of the party and desired by countless women.

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He found his vocation early. While attending school in Paris, where his father had been posted as ambassador, he took every opportunity to haunt the nightclubs of Montmartre.  ”Books didn’t find in me a very faithful friend, nor did the professors find a conscientious student,” he wrote in his memoirs.  ”The only things that interested me were sports, girls, adventures, celebrities – in short, life.” 

 That version of life requires money, and Rubirosa, despite his polished manners and undeniable charm, had none.  That changed when he caught the eye of the Dominican Republic’s new strongman, Rafael Trujillo, who saw in Rubirosa a potential ally who could win over the country’s golden youth to his regime.  For the next 30 years, Rubirosa profited by the connection, sometimes serving in diplomatic posts and, just as often, playing the unofficial role of goodwill ambassador and high-level fixer.

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"The only things that interested me were sports, girls, adventures, celebrities - in short, life." --Porfirio Rubirosa

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Porfirio Rubirosa

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Rubirosa’s first audacious move was to marry Trujillo’s daughter, a potentially career-ending, or even life-ending, bit of chutzpah.  In time, he would capture even bigger prizes.  While a diplomat in Paris, he set his eyes on Danielle Darrieux, France’s biggest female film star, who quickly became his second wife.

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Porfirio Rubirosa with one-time wife Doris Duke.

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Porfirio Rubirosa and Doris Duke.

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When, after the war, the couple were interviewed by Doris Duke, heir to the R. J. Reynolds tobacco fortune and one of the richest women in the world, Rubirosa suddenly decided that the American version of the woman could be rather appealing too.  Marriage No. 3 took place in 1947, followed quickly by divorce and, in 1953, by marriage No. 4, to Barbara Hutton, another fabulously wealthy American heiress.  All the while, Rubirosa pursued his side interests with zeal.  ”One woman is not enough for him,” Darrieux complained to the press.  ”A man like him needs a harem.”

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Playboy Porfirio Rubirosa

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Just what was the appeal?  Mr. Levy, the author of “Rat Pack Confidential” and the film critic for The Portland Oregonian, makes a fairly convincing case that the Rubi magic came down to a combination of charm, mystique and, quite possibly, physical attributes, not limited to Rubi’s darkly handsome features. (Mr. Levy writes that cheeky waiters referred to the largest pepper-mill in the house as “the Rubirosa.”) Rubirosa spoke five languages, three of them fluently.  His dress and his manners were impeccable, his appetite for women stupendous.  He preferred that they be rich and beautiful, but in a pinch, anything with curves would do: the hat-check girl, a waitress, a low-rent prostitute.

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The charmingly irresistible Porfirio Rubirosa

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The suave, dapper and decadent Porfirio Rubirosa

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In his prime, he was unstoppable.  ”He wraps his charm around your shoulders like a Russian sable coat,” the gossip columnist Hedda Hopper wrote.  Even women determined to resist, and warned in advance, found themselves saying yes when Rubirosa mounted a full-scale offensive.  Even Zsa Zsa Gabor, a grandmaster at the sex-for-money chess game, succumbed, although she drew the line at marriage.  Her tempestuous relationship with Rubirosa provides Mr. Levy with some of his best material. 

Rubirosa, who surely saw in Ms. Gabor the challenge of a lifetime, pursued his prey ardently and relentlessly, in full view of the panting press.

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Zsa Zsa Gabor and Porfirio Rubirosa

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Zsa Zsa Gabor and Porfirio Rubirosa– red hot lovers.

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It made for spectacular theater.  When Ms. Gabor refused to leave her current husband, the actor George Sanders, Rubirosa struck her.  Ms. Gabor called a news conference and showed up wearing an eye patch. “In Spanish, Rubirosa means a red rose, but to me it’s a black eye,” she told reporters.  The headline in The New York Daily News read: “I Said No, So Porfy Poked Me: Zsa Zsa.”

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Porfirio Rubirosa and Barbara Hutton

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Porfirio Rubirosa married Barbara Hutton and cashed-in quick.

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Strapped for cash, Rubirosa proceeded to marry Barbara Hutton.  The marriage lasted 75 days and netted the happy husband cash and property worth $3.5 million, enough to finance his polo ponies, tailored suits and lavish partiers for years to come.  And Rubirosa, a superbly conditioned nightlife athlete, had lots left in him.  Eartha Kitt, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, the Empress Soraya of Iran – there was scarcely an actress or princess alive whose name was not linked with Rubirosa’s at some point in the 1950′s and even the 1960′s, when he began to slow down just a bit.

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Porfirio Rubirosa with his young French wife, Odile Rodin.

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The younger Odile gave Porfirio Rubirosa a little taste of his own medicine.

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There’s some poetic justice in Rubirosa’s increasingly desperate attempts to keep up with his fifth wife, the French actress Odile Rodin.  A ferocious nightclubber, she would frequently skip off to Paris, and the arms of her many male admirers, while Rubi stayed home in the suburbs, tending the garden and playing with his Chihuahua.  He came to enjoy the simple pleasures, but then again, for Rubirosa, everything in life was simple.

“Women like to be gay,” he once explained to a radio interviewer.  ”I like to be gay.  They want to be happy.  I try to make them happy.”  That’s all there was to it.

Story from The New York Times

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The tabloids loved Porfirio Rubirosa

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Zsa Zsa Gabor and Porfirio Rubirosa in the tabloids, along with rumours of Rubirosa’s bloodline.

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Story from The New York Observer

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Illio Capocci

 
Illio Capocci was trained in fascist Italy and he served with other noted frogmen in UDT missions, and mini submarines against the allies. Commander Claudio Caamaño in 2003, referred to him as having served in the Gestapo SS, but this might not be historically accurate, even though the Italians and Germans technically where allies against the British, and the US. As most surviving WW II veterans, after the war, and possible incarceration from the victorious allied forces (USA, UK, and the Russians), these professional soldiers that had experienced high adrenaline live combat, where without jobs, in the occupation that they knew the best. The German and Italian armies where disbanded. Some of these adrenaline junkies enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, and became "Legionnaires" and served in the battle of Algiers and French Indochine (Vietnam). After the French rout in Diem Bin Phu, the surviving mercs where jobless again.

André Riviere and Illio Capocci where some of those that ended up in Hispaniola. Riviere went to Haiti to advise Papa Doc Duvalier, and was accidentally vacationing in Santo Domingo, when the war broke out, and illio Capocci ended up migrating to the DR, and being one of the trainer's of Trujillo's elite seal team corps, the famous "hombres Rana".

Illio Capocci joined the DR civil war in the constitutionalist side, covering the back of Coronel Caamaño in the battle of the "Duarte bridge". Through ice cold blood in his veins, being totally fearless, because of his previous urban fighting experience, he coached the unexperienced Dominican military, including both Caamaño's, Montes Arache, Lora Fernandez, and other military and civilians, into the art of war, and how to tactically engage armored vehicles and tanks, in a defensive position. Without him, and some of the few instructors who remained in the zona colonial, resistance would have been futile, against such an overwhelming opponent, with tanks, airplanes, cannons, armored vehicles, helicopters, and all the resources and might, of the best USA forces, that where supposed to be impartial referees, but where actually on the side of the CEFA gorilla's and the dark forces of the corrupt San Isidro military.

According to confidential US sources, both Illio Capocci, and André Riviere where specially targeted by professional snipers from either the 1 St Marine division or the 82 ND Airbone, that along with the famous 101 St (All the Way) and screaming eagles, had landed in DR, and where helping the San Isidro junta forces.
As you noticed, the majority of the weapons used by the DR "hombres rana" where captured M-16 rifles, that had been recently issued just to the elite paratrooper corps, as the marines still where using the outdated M-14 rifle. Here is a photo of then coronel Ramón Montes Arache with his M-16.

Illio Capocci fought with the constitutionalist forces, because of his destiny, maybe old memories desiring payback, but most of all because of his love of war, and the adrenaline surging in his veins, from fighting in a just cause, because it was the right thing to do.
 
 

COMMANDOS- “Hombres Rana” (Frogmen) of the Dominican Navy

COMMANDOS-
“Hombres Rana”  of the Dominican Navy



The concept of Special Forces begins in the Dominican Republic with the “Hombres Rana” commandos, which has its origin in 1957 when dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo decided to create a special unit to fight certale in enemies of the regime inside and outside the country.
According to Vice Admiral (RIP) Manuel Ramon Montes Arache, one of the creators and unit commander, Trujillo decides to eliminate Venezuelan president Betancourt because of the support it offered Trujillo's opponents in exile, resulting in the Dominican dictator’s desire to eliminate Betancourt and cause damage to its oil infrastructure.
Dr. Zonchini, an Italian who was the personal physician of Dona Julia Molina Trujillo's mother, is the person who comes up with the idea of creating the tyrant elite seal team, making reference to the success they had had Italy with such unit during World War II.

Trujillo was convinced he needed to have his naval commandos capable of conducting military operations by land and sea abroad, with a high degree of accuracy, efficiency and safety.
For the purpose of instructing commandos,foreign instructors where hired, especially Italian veterans of the Second World War, with impressive service records of long and dangerous missions on several fronts in the Mediterranean.
One of the instructors who came in 1956 and settled in Las Calderas Naval Base was instructor Illio Cappoci, a founder in Italy of mini-submarine frogmen who served Mussolini’s Italy during War World II, being highly decorated for his personal courage, and distinguished military services rendered to his country. Another instructor was Victorio Tedesco, former captain of frogmen commands of the Italian Navy during World War II. His unit operated in Gibraltar with a six seater submarine and attacked a British naval flotilla and sank most of the ships that were involved, leaving twelve uninjured occupants of submarines, including himself.

Alberto Cortelleza, another instructor, was Italian captain, skydiving expert, during World War II, fulfilled numerous dangerous missions in enemy territories in different European countries.
Other instructors where Benito Pambianchi, Captain of the Italian navy commandos, Enzo Lobast, Elio Bolpi, a civilian, military karate coach for quick removal of enemies, and Mamoro Matsunaga, civilian, Dominican-Japanese military judo coach.

The selection of personnel for the unit starts in August 1957. Then lieutenant Colonel Montes Arache, evaluated about 2000 crème de la crème, volunteers who came from the Army, Navy, Air Force and even some civilian classes. After rigorous evaluation and slection, the chosen few underwent rigorous training for these men, the result was a platoon of 27 soldiers consisting of 1 officer (Manuel Ramon Montes Arache, commander), 1 sergeant, three sergeants, 6 corporals and 16 privates. This happened in the following promotions who completed 4 with a total of 97 commandos, comparable with the best of the best, of the first world powers involved in World War II and presently. These glorious soldiers showed their heroic military exploits in the battles of the War of April 1965, their high fighting spirit, their great courage and true patriotism.

The foundations for achieving good military formation of this elite body, responded to a conceptual framework concerning strict individual discipline, respect for the inviolability of the military hierarchy and observing the moral and professional ethics, reinforced by institutional and mystical pride in their bodies.
Achieving top physical condition and health, with a balanced diet, continuing medical evaluation, extreme exercises on land and sea, building strength, physical and mental toughness through exercises for hardening of muscles, bones, organs and nervous system.

Also they where assessed for their vision, hearing and smell, which should get high marks.
The frogmen had to qualify in efficient underwater exercises and ground military operations with live munitions and explosives. Learning to fight one on one, one on two, one to three, and so on, with any type of weapon or blunt instrument, pointed or sharp.

These commandos would also learn nomenclatures for frogmen, assemble, disassemble and manage all skills for handguns, assault rifles, and plastic explosives. Should dominate employment in special missions of all types of conventional explosives used in military operations for demolitions and termination of enemy ships.
The commandos learned with great effectiveness the "recovery" techniques, to be taken from the sea by speedboats at high speed, being pursued by the enemy and escape any pursuit to reach their place of departure and take shelter. Another activity which they trained, was to develop military parachuting for surprising hidden missions in enemy territory. They trained in concealment and camouflage, able to transform their appearance and not be easily identified.

Their work assigned to military commands frogmen are of various natures and high risk of death: penetration for secret missions into enemy territory for intelligence, surveillance remove camps, establishing beachheads, commit sabotage in ports in sea and river channels. Mining naval routes, roads and highways, railways, highways, etc., Where the enemy would transport food, water, fuel, medicine, weapons and ammunition. That is, do all covert military operations command and especially mine enemy ships in port. They must learn to survive in the most precarious places and extreme low temperatures, in jungles, swamps, at sea, in deserts and endure long periods of time and control hunger.

According to some experts these soldiers were more complete, than the ranger and the U.S. Green Berets, and equivalent to the seal teams of the US navy.

Commander Montes Arache only received direct orders of the dictator Trujillo himself and unit issues were confidential. The mission of this unit was designed from before their creation. As we highlight above, the frogmen were created with the mission of special operations aimed at eliminating
Trujillo certain enemies, but especially to conduct a special operation in Venezuela aimed to destroy the oil facilities on Lake Maracaibo.

Importantly frogmen were not used to run the mission from Venezuela because international agencies learned of the original plan and Trujillo decided not to sabotage oil installations in Maracaibo but physically eliminate Rómulo Betancourt directly without using the special Commando’s.

The frogmen joined the War of April 1965, when their commander decided not to accept the order of the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Francisco Javier Rivera Caminero, of leaving the scene of Santo Domingo, where he had initiated the revolt and receive command at 27 de febrero Naval Base, to which Arache Montes refused and he decided, without compromising the Commandos Corps members in their personal commitment to go to zona colonial to fight for the constitutionalist forces, for freedom, sovereignty and democracy of his beloved homeland.

When this brave warrior was in nearby Independence park preparing the defense of that sector, 34 members of the frogmen Corps appeared and Sergeant major Peter G. Ovalles Ureña, who commanded at that juncture these soldiers, went to his respected and admired commander, saying: "Mi commandante, commandos present in body and soul to receive their orders."

This action demonstrated the high degree of respect, identification and authority that he dispensed to his subordinates for this honorable Dominican military: Vice Admiral Ramon Manuel Montes Arache. At this historical moment, the Constitutionalists were a military force, without it, many doubt the resistance that could have been achieved without them, since the beginning of the civil war they conducted a stubborn urban guerrilla war, resisting being crushed by powerful domestic and foreign armies.
Fidel Castro and General Bruce Palmer, head of the U.S. occupation troops in the war in April 1965, expressed at different times and separately, their admiration and recognition to the seal teams of the Dominican Navy, as excellent elite combat unit.

The “hombres rana” in the middle of the civil war, around May 1965, opened an academy where they trained other fighters in urban guerrilla warfare and participated in all major battles, as the assault on the National Palace (May 19) US snipers that where posted near the national palace shot Illio Capocci in combat on May 19, 1965 along with Coronel Fernandez Dominguez.

Another one of the instructors Andres Rivierie a French ex-“legion etrangere” merc died, victim of snipers in the fighting on 15 and 16 June.
This unit was disbanded in 1965 at the end of the revolution.

Dominican Exportations

What are the exportation products from Dominican Republic?


We recently saw an increment in exportation of 44 % in relation to the last year..We are going to mention 20 products exported by DR

Dominican Republic exportation have really diversified in the last couple of years and has passed from some minor exportation of US$428 millions in 2004 to US$2,362 millions in 2011, ..And that means those minor products have been multiply by 500%

• 1.-Machines for blood transfusion
  US$147.66 ( in millions)
  I would NEVER though this would be the number 1 exportation of DR

• 2.-Cotton textile
  US$118.28

• 3.-Handmade Cigars
  US$102.45

• 4.-Sugar
  US$100.30

• 5.-Bonao's ferroniquel
  US$72.27

• 6.-Electrical switches
  US$68.26

• 7.-Disposable medical equipment
  US$66.83

• 8.- Gas ( yes, gas !)
  US$60.27

Besides that we got steel rod,US$60.16 millions disposable sheets,US$48.60millions and rum US$42.87millions

Other products: steel, rod, surgical stitches, cocoa beans, flour, white cement, organic bananas and machinery to measure blood pressure.

One low note is that between 2005 and 2011 the importation has double in DR , and 60% of it is oil and fuel, including coal.


One thing that was missing in that budget was Barrick Gold exportation= $0 and the Dominican government desperately need that income to execute several important projects

Another interesting note is the diversification of traditional exportation agrarian products in national economy.



Our biggest goal now is our own believe that we can export , because exportation were the Cinderella of the strong currency generators in DR so far.
Our forecast is that situation is going to change pretty soon being exportation one of the biggest engines in Dominican economy due to the increase of production, sales, opportunities and channels of distribution.



There is a project executed by ADOEXPO with the BID with the mission of helping the agrarian exportation companies overcome the obstacles to get their produce into central America and the Caribbean under the CAFTA agreement, something that we have under exploited yet, so we will see a bigger increase of agrarian produce exportation as well.

We need to identify the biggest challenge for exportation for the small and middle enterprises, and of course with the help and support of Danilo's administration.

The agro industrial production in Dominican republic

We were reading about the expansion of Dominican Republic agro products exportations.we believe that for storage and distribution the dominicans can achieve better results using agro industrial products.

Agriculture in the Dominican Republic has changed dramatically during the later part of the last century. Agriculture employed some 60% of the population in 1960 and was reduced to 18% in the year 2000 (Banco Central, 2000).

The question that must be asked, is agricultural development a viable conservation and development strategy for rural communities in the Dominican Republic?

The Center for Planning and Ecumenical Action (CEPAE) founded on October 27, 1970 in the Dominican Republic believes that many development projects fail because they perceive agriculture as a technical activity.

Agro industrial would solve the storage and maintenance issues that can show up with our warm weather and timing issues.

Somehow these obstacle came to my mind:

• An inconsistent and insufficient supply of raw material for no seasonal crops

• Poor quality of raw material supply and high losses during transport from farm to factory

• Poor and inconsistent quality of processed products ( the norm in dominican agriculture)

• Sub-optimal use of processing facilities and equipment

• Poorly trained personnel and a lack of qualified food technologists

• A lack of proper sanitation practices of dominican and haitian workers ( we need to be realistic)

• Inappropriate packaging materials and high packaging cost

• Weak or non-existent market development and proper experience in DR

• A lack of technical support for the agro-industrial sector in DR

• Absence of good management of the processing facility once commercialized

• Other issuers to consider include: Electricity and refrigeration issues, storage issues, road infrastructure issues, transportation of agro products in DR,proper logistic, Dominican burocracy,security, etc,etc

The question is what does it take as Dominicans to achieve those proper exporting goals?
I have to agree with Atabey that the future looks wider with Russian and Brazilian opportunities and new road infrastructure , but it takes the initiative of the private sector , not the government to do that.

The question is : Can we really do it?





For many years people have seen the agro industrial sector in a despective way.Instead , the importation of different issues in DR is the common thread.For example , you could see a lot of business importing oil and tires one by the side of the other but not a big complex in charge of exportation of agro industrial items..

First of all we need to identify the areas in DR for proper agriculture:

Map of the Agricultural Regions of Dominican Republic




This map shows the top food and other agricultural commodities produced in the Dominican Republic in 2008.
From the tonnage standpoint, sugarcane is, by far, the main agricultural product, with 4.8 million metric tons per year. From the value stand point, chicken, beef, and cow’s milk rank first, second, and third respectively

We need to check some of our main agro produce as well, for example:





But we haven't consider a lot of our produce to be exported to exotic destinations as well:sugar, distilleries produces, cassava ,swine packed produces, the  eggs and poultry produces,vegetable oil ,etc, etc..

People don't realize how lucky were are to have in front of us USA the biggest consumer in the world..And we barely see Dominican agro industrial produce in the market.

Another issue into consideration are the proper institutions that can support some of that exportation and productions and can give the proper orientations as well.I will name a few:

Asociación de Porcicultores del Cibao ,Consejo Estatal del Azucar, Centro de Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal ,Centro de Orientación, Apoyo yPromoción a la Inversión ,Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura ,Instituto de Estabilización de Precios ,Junta
Agroempresarial Dominicana ,Secretaría de Estado deAgricultura ,Centro de Orientación, Apoyo y Promoción a la Inversión , etc, etc..

National exports, not including free zones, jumped 44% between January and February compared with the same period in 2012, Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD) director Jean Alain Rodriguez affirmed
He said exports in the first two months in 2012 were US$390 million, climbing to US$560 million this year, or US$170 million more.

“Dominican exports continue to grow thanks to the different mechanisms implemented by president Danilo Medina, in support of small and medium enterprises, which have boosted this sector,” the official said, and announced the Dominican Agribusiness Board’s (JAD)

 The number of countries to which organic produce is exported has been increasing steadily. During the year 2000, products were exported to at least 21 countries in the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Asia. Over 80 percent of the produce was exported to Europe. The main markets by volume were the United Kingdom and Belgium followed by the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy in decreasing order

 The potential for increased production of all crops and diversification is enormous. Indeed, there is already a trend to increase the product range. The growing domestic market as well as regional markets provide some potential particularly for vegetables. Indeed, it is envisaged that in the short term, expansion of organic production will track global trends in demand. Thus 5-10 percent growth is projected annually. Some of the major challenges concern production. These include production of sufficient product of high quality to satisfy demand, technical support for farmers, provision of affordable credit, suitable shipping schedules and growing competition

Toward the middle of this decade DR we will see an increase of the export for several reasons: acceleration in the pace of globalization and trade liberation and new market access, but that will require more domestic support commitment by Danilo's government as well.

Our expectations are high.The opportunities are endless..When there is a will, there is a way..