Press Release

Vice-President of the Dominican Republic Visits OFID
Alburquerque and OFID agree to increase cooperation

 

50/2006 May 17, 2006, Vienna, Austria
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HEDr. Rafael Alburquerque, Vice President of the Dominican Republic, last week paid a visit to the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). The Vice-President, Dr. Rafael Alburquerque, accompanied by a high-level delegation, was given a warm welcome by Mr. Jamal Nasser Lootah, Chairman of the Governing Board of OFID and its Director-General, Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish.

After a presentation explaining OFID’s development work in the country, Dr. Alburquerque discussed his wish to strengthen cooperation in both the public and private sector. The Dominican Republic Vice-President referred to the country’s future needs and priority areas for investment, particularly in support of the energy sector, a “key factor in reducing poverty.” He also emphasized that development could only be attained by implementing sustainable, environmentally-friendly technologies, citing, for instance, using sugar cane for producing biofuel. Afterwards, HE Julio Ortega Tous, Executive Secretary of the Dominican Republic’s National Commission for Commercial Negotiations, praised Venezuela, an OFID Member Country, and pointed out that this “ fellow Latin American country,” has been extremely cooperative in helping his people.

Cooperation between the Dominican Republic and OFID began more than 25 years ago. Public sector loans have been approved in the agriculture, energy, transportation, water supply and sewerage sectors, as well as those of a multisectoral nature. In addition, the Dominican Republic has received balance of payments support and program loans. The country has also benefited from OFID’s joint initiative with UNICEF to combat HIV/AIDS among street children, in addition to several technical assistance and emergency aid grants.

Dr. Alburquerque was in Vienna as the delegation head representing the Dominican Republic at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, which took place on May 12.