Agro exports climb 8% in 2014, 5% in early 2015: Official

Santo Domingo.- The head of Dominican Republic’s Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD) on Tuesday said agro exports climbed 8% in 2014, and around 5% in early months in 2015 compared to the same period a year ago.

Jean Alain Rodriguez said the growth results from joint efforts for the sector. "Preliminary data at the close of 2014 and confirmed to March show that exports to the world reached US$1.93 billion in agricultural products, an 8 percent increase compared with 2013," the official said.

Rodriguez, in a press conference to announce the fifth annual "International Food, Tobacco and Beverage Fair: Agrifood 2015" from May 7 to 9 at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel in Santo Domingo, said the country added 6 new foreign markets last year.

He said the country’s total exports will top US$10.0 billion by 2015, whereas agro exports would exceed US$2.0 million. "It’s a time when world exports aren’t growing at a good pace. As much of the world decreases, Dominican Republic is growing.”