Region nations mull port protection next week

Dominican Republic will host a regional event in which representatives from several countries will analyze port protection, mostly to prevent terrorism and other activities that pose threats to national security.

Several continental organizations sponsor the activity with delegates from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

Specialized Port Security Corps (CESEP) director Luis R. Lee Ballester, who made the announcement Thursday, said the sub regional workshop is slated from October 18 to 20.

The conclave’s sponsors include the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), the Organization of American States (OAS), Canada’s Transport Ministry and the United States Coastguard Service (USCG).

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Source: Dominican Today

Barrick Named Carbon Disclosure Leader in Canada, Recognized for CSR in Chile and Dominican Republic

Barrick has been recognized as one of the top five companies in Canada for its climate change disclosure practices and has received separate awards for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance in Chile and the Dominican Republic.

For the second consecutive year, Barrick was named as a carbon disclosure leader in Canada, this year ranking among the top five companies in an annual survey conducted by the Carbon Disclosure Project. Barrick was selected from among 200 major Canadian companies as the most prepared, involved and transparent in their approach to climate change information disclosure practices and strategies. The Carbon Disclosure Project is the only global climate reporting system that asks companies to disclose GHG emissions and climate change strategies. The survey is available for use by a wide audience including institutional investors, corporations, policy makers, public sector organizations, government bodies, academics and the public.

“At Barrick, it is a business imperative to manage the long-term, energy-related risks associated with climate change,” said Bill Williams, Barrick’s vice president for Environment. “We are committed to public disclosure and are very pleased to be ranked as one of the top five leading companies in Canada by the Carbon Disclosure Project this year. We will continue to report on the progress we are making, as we pursue opportunities to reduce energy consumption, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions and adopt renewable energy projects at our operations.”

Through energy conservation and efficiency programs, Barrick’s global GHG emissions were reduced by 206,200 metric tons in 2010. The company continues to explore innovative technologies and implement alternative energy projects in Chile, Argentina, the U.S., Tanzania and other locations.

In Chile, Barrick received an award from the Chilean Ministry of Planning and Cooperation for its efforts to reduce poverty in the country’s Antofagasta and Atacama regions. “We are very proud to receive this award and it commits us to continue this type of work,” said Barrick vice president of corporate affairs Rod Jiménez. “We believe that by working together with communities, we can add value and contribute to a better society.”

Since 2009, Barrick has been working with the Solidarity and Social Investment Fund (FOSIS) to implement projects to help people living in extreme poverty near its Chilean mine sites. The programs provide assistance to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses. In 2010, 89 entrepreneurs and 35 small businesses received support from Barrick. As well, since 2008, Barrick has been part of the Atacama Commitment, a unique alliance with Chilean NGOs and government partners that includes a range of programs and projects aimed at improving economic and social conditions in communities in the Atacama region, home to Barrick’s Cerro Casale and Pascua-Lama projects.

“This award is aimed at recognizing companies with specific programs and initiatives to overcome poverty,” said Joaquin Levin, Chile’s minister of planning and cooperation. “It is focused on identifying and rewarding everyone who is collaborating on poverty reduction initiatives and inviting others to join this challenge.”

Finally, in the Dominican Republic, Barrick’s Pueblo Viejo operation was recognized by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic with an award for its community development practices. The award recognizes Barrick for its innovative work in helping develop a wide array of CSR initiatives in collaboration with residents and governments in communities surrounding the Pueblo Viejo project. Pueblo Viejo was one of six companies vying for the award.

“We are thrilled and gratified to be receiving this award, which recognizes our extensive work with communities to help them determine the sustainable development initiatives that they want to implement, and ensure they have the capacity to see those initiatives through to completion,” said Faby Manzano, CSR manager, Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation.

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Source: 3bl Media

Dominican Republic learns Korean economic model

The visiting Dominican Republic secretary of state said Wednesday that the Caribbean island state wants to follow the Korean economic model, which helped the nation become one of the world’s strongest information technology powerhouses.

“We are seeking to follow Korea’s example. Dominican Republic has been an agricultural country, but wants to transform to an advanced IT industry-based nation,” said Eddy Martinez, secretary of state of Dominican Republic through an interpreter in an interview with The Korea Times.

Martinez came to Seoul with fellow government officials and businessmen to take part in an education program, invited by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank).

Martinez, also in charge of the nation’s export and investment agency, said he hopes a bilateral relationship with Korea will be enforced through his visit.

“We want to be a strategic ally of Korea. We hope to have more important relationships with Korean companies.”

Martinez said that he is especially interested in Korea’s advanced three-dimensional (3D) technology and digital content business. Korea’s LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are two of the world’s leading companies with high-end 3D technologies.

The secretary of state also said he wants to learn from Korea’s education system, which has produced quality human resources enabling drastic economic development.

Julio Anibal Fernandez Javier, vice finance minster of Dominican Republic, stated his appreciation of Korea Eximbank for providing the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of $23 million to his country, which contributed to its customs agency modernization project.

Javier also hoped for more loans from Korea for its projects for its immigration agency modernization and trade center construction.
Korea Eximbank said that it has already approved an additional loan of $25 million for the immigration improvement, and is in talks with Dominican Republic on the trade center project, valued at $36 million.

The state-run bank introduced the nation’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) support program titled “Korea’s Hidden Champions” to the Dominican Republic people. A hidden champion refers to an SME, which has an internationally competitive market share though its exports are less than $4 billion.

The bank wants to enforce the backbone of the nation’s industry supporting 100 SMEs which have the potential to grow as globally competitive companies.

The 12 Dominican Republic officials and businessmen also visited the main office of Celltrion, a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Incheon, and an example of a Korean hidden champion.

They are scheduled to drop by global Seoul-based companies, such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, to look around plants and industrial infrastructure later in the week.

Korea Eximbank organized this event as part of its “Knowledge Sharing Program,” which introduces the country’s experience of economic achievement to developing nations.

Korea has drawn attention from the world for its rapid economic success from poverty and the ruins of the Korean War.

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Source: Korea Times

Dominican Republic starts up wind power project

Dominican Republic inaugurated its first large-scale wind power project on Tuesday in a move to develop renewable energy sources in the Caribbean country's crisis-ridden power sector.

President Leonel Fernandez attended the opening of the twin wind parks of Los Cocos and Quilvio Cabrera in Pedernales province in the southern part of Dominican Republic's frontier with Haiti.

The facility, which involved an investment of around $100 million by private local power companies Punta Cana-Macao (CEPM) and EGE-Haina, has 19 wind towers and will contribute 33 megawatts (MW) to the national electricity network. It will save around 200,000 barrels of oil a year, officials said.

The country's electricity sector, which relies on costly oil imports, has been in crisis for decades and consumers suffer frequent power blackouts. Private estimates say some 40 percent of Dominicans fail to pay for electricity, with many using illegal hookups to power their homes.

Under a $1.66 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) stand-by program, the government has been slashing hefty subsidies to the electricity sector and raising fees, but it has still budgeted around $350 million in subsidies this year.

A number of wind power projects already exist in the Caribbean -- in Jamaica, Cuba, Aruba and Guadelupe -- but the Dominican Republic facility was believed to be the largest of its kind so far, EGE-Haina officials said.

EGE-Haina said a second phase of the wind farm project would add an additional 52 MW in 2012.

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Source: Reuters

Dominican Republic Offers Support for Palestine’s UN Bid

Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, in a meeting with visiting President Mahmoud Abbas, Friday offered his country’s support for the Palestinians’ United Nations membership bid, according to reports.

Abbas, on an official visit to several Central American and Caribbean countries, discussed with Fernandez the Palestinian plan to gain UN recognition and membership.

The Palestinian president addressed the Dominican Parliament during which he announced that the Palestinian Authority intends to open an embassy in Santo Domingo.

“We hope that this embassy will be the central stage to develop our bilateral relations and our relations with many countries whether in Central America or the Caribbean,” he said.

Abbas said that the majority of world countries have recognized Palestine because they believe that this move is very essential for stability and peace in the region. The Dominican Republic has been one of the first countries to support the Palestinian bid, he said.

Fernandez conferred on Abbas the 'Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella,' the highest and principal honor of the Caribbean country.

“We hope to achieve peace and security among Israelis and Palestinians,” said Fernandez. “Recognizing the statehood of Palestine would help bring about lasting peace in the Middle East and ease concerns in the entire Arab community.”

He added that the Dominican Republic “does not hesitate to recognize the legitimate right of Palestine to be recognized as a free, sovereign and independent nation.”

Abbas arrived in the Dominican Republic on Friday, the first leg of his Latin American tour to gather world support for the Palestinian UN bid.

He will travel to el-Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Colombia, and will stop in Portugal on his way back.

The vote from Colombia and Portugal, two non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, is crucial to get the UN body to discuss the Palestinian application for membership. While the two states have said they might abstain, Abbas is trying to get them to vote in favor of the application.

The Security Council has first to accept the recommendation before it is brought before the UN General Assembly for a final vote. The United States, a permanent Security Council member, said it will veto it if the Palestinians get nine or more votes in favor.


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Source: Palestine News & Info Agency

Village Farms opens packing, distribution facility in Dominican Republic

Village Farms International Inc. (TSX:VFF) has opened a packing and distribution facility in the Dominican Republic.

The company, which specializes in greenhouse-grown produce, said Monday that the subsidiary, located in Santiago, will begin packaging sweet bell peppers this month.

All of the logistal services of exporting the produce to the United States will be managed by the company.

"With the proper grower training programs in place, effective packaging and logistics services, and steady guidance the Caribbean region is poised to become a consistent supplier of hydroponic greenhouse grown sweet bell peppers to the United States," senior vice-president Michael Minerva in a release.

Village Farms, headquartered in Vancouver, is one of North America's largest producers of greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers. It operates in both Texas and British Columbia.

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Source: Winnipeg Free Press

Lansing adds direct flights to Dominican Republic

It's getting a little easier to book a warm-weather trip. Punta Cana has joined Cancun and Montego Bay with non-stop flights out of Lansing.

To celebrate, the Capital Regional International Airport is hosting the Fly Lansing Travel Extravaganza from 5-8 p.m. Thursday in the airport terminal. Representatives from Apple Vacations, Sun Country Airlines, tourism bureaus and resort properties will be on site to familiarize the public with direct flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Cancun, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and others.

"Lansing worked hard to get the Sun Country service at their airport that does run seasonal non-stop flights to (these spots)", according to Peggy Riley, of Dolphin Vacations, a division of Professional Travel, in Grand Rapids. "The first year, (the Lansing airport) offered only Cancun, the second they added Jamaica, and this year they added Punta Cana."

Local travel agents have booked many of the seats for the Spring Break dates on these flights. Riley said Lansing is the only airport to offer these other than Chicago or Detroit.

"The flights to Montego Bay and Punta Cana operate once a week, and the service starts in December and operates through the first week of April," she said.

Remarkably, Riley said, one of the advantages of the Sun Country service is they rarely cancel a flight. Even in the worst snowstorms of last year, their flight departed from Lansing when others didn’t.

Travel agents also can help travelers find hotels to stay at the night before and be taken to the airport for the flight, "just like in Detroit and Chicago," she said.

The third annual Travel Extravaganza is open to the public and free and includes prizes, food and parking. Get more information on Sun Country and Apple Vacation packages by visiting Flylansing.com, contact the Fly Lansing Concierge Travel Center at 517-321-4688 or contact your travel agent.


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Source: MLive