A meeting between trade advisor for the U.S. Embassy's Caribbean region, Michael McGee, and the National Council of Free Trade Export Zones is aimed at creating a strategic alliance between the Dominican and U.S. textile sectors by organizing a visit to North and South Carolina.

The Free Trade zone leaders, led by Luisa Fernández Durán, are confident this initiative can revitalize the Dominican Republic's textile sector.

With only a month of DR-CAFTA under the country's belt, the Dominican Republic Centre for Exports and Investments (CEI) is reporting "an avalanche of demand" from foreign investors.

Director Eddy Martinez cites the increase in the number of people visiting his office as proof of this increased interest in the Dominican Republic. And this interest isn't just coming from North America but places like Japan and European countries that have never before shown interest in investing here.

He also noted that exports had increased by 64% for the first three months of 2007 as compared to the same period last year. This means an increase of US$204 million in the first quarter of the year. He cites the increase in ferro-nickel prices and increased exports in non-traditional products in the agricultural, agroindustrial and industrial areas.

With the aim of strengthening the country's economic stability, 10 new bills have been submitted to Congress by President Leonel Fernandez.

One bill seeks to further his plans for the country's competitiveness, that he promoted last week, by changing the name of the Industrial Promotion Corporation (CFI) to the Development and Competitiveness Centre (PROINDUSTRIA).

A bill to recapitalize the Central Bank and modify the Monetary and Finance Law has also been submitted. The government would take on the losses of the Central Bank, currently running a quasi-deficit of RD$160 million.

Other bills include building of public works and services, regulations for commercial practices for both small and medium-sized businesses and recognition of the importance of the cruise ship industry.

Strangely, and not for the first time, here in the land of sugar cane traders are having a difficult time finding sugar and retailers are reporting shortages. And the shortage of this staple product is leading to price increases.

President of the National Federation of Retail Provision Traders (Fenacodep), José Matos has said that they have asked for an explanation from Central Romana. Central Romana is the only producer of refined sugar in the Dominican Republic.

He further says that while Fenocodep has 35,000 registered members they are only receiving 1200 sacks of sugar per week. If they gave one sack a week to each trader it would mean a whopping 33,800 sack shortage.