Foreign Ministry announces US$8.9M facility; ambitious revamp

Santo Domingo.- Foreignminister Andres Navarro on Tuesday announced the construction of a conventioncenter and an underground parking at a cost of RD$400.0 million (US$8.9million), to prepare the country´s Foreign Ministry for the more than 20international events slated for this year.

He said the funds arepart of the savings from cutting the Foreign Service payroll.

Speaking at the DominicanDiplomacy Second Forum 2016 Wednesday morning, the official said the savings willalso fund the new consular services system to start operations during thesecond half of the year, and to open the offices to attend Dominicans abroad.

Navarro also revealedthat his agency will get an additional US$11 million from this year´s budget tofinance the ambitious foreign agenda planned for 2016.

He said the ForeignService will be transformed with salary scales, reorganized personnel accordingto the country´s interests and their incorporation to the civil service career.