France US$210M loan aims to develop Santo Domingo Este

Santo Domingo.- The French Development Agency (AFD) on Thursday announced a US$210 million soft loan to collaborate with the zoning and urban mobility in Santo Domingo Este.

France ambassador Blandine Kreiss, AFD director in Santo Domingo Gilles Genre-Grandpierre and Finance minister Simon Lizardo signed the agreement.

Lizardo hailed the AFD’s support of social protection programs, citing the reconstruction of the Barrio La Barquita, whose decent infrastructure benefits its residents.

The loan’s 20 year period includes 5 years of grace in capital, to extend Santo Domingo Metro’s second Line, the reconstruction of La Barquita, the construction of la Nueva Barquita, and the Acuabus ferry across the Ozama River, which links it to the subway.

Kreiss said as part of the financing, a first disbursement of US$120 million is being processed, to “comply with the program’s tight schedule.”