International Food Fair nets local producers US$357.0M

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD) director Jean Alain Rodriguez and Agribusiness Board (JAD) chairman Osmar Benitez on Monday called the fifth annual International Food, Tobacco and Beverage Fair a great success for Dominican producers, with sales estimated at US$357.0 million.

"We were able to increase promotion on Dominican agro products in this version, both nationally and internationally, doubling the number of buyers who visited in 2013 and projection of closed contracts during the year increasing by more than 68.44%," Rodriguez said.

The official said more than 230 buyers from over 30 countries participated in this year’s fair, to sign contracts and negotiate with various sectors, “far exceeding the 112 international buyers who attended the previous year.”

Rodriguez said there were 2,200 documented business meetings this year which he affirms nearly doubles those of the last fair, of 1,600 business meetings. "And this resulted that when compared with 2013, there were projected contracts of US$212 million.”