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.