The Dominican Republic, an independent Nation of Spanish heritage, located in the Caribbean, the second largest of the caribbean nations, with a 7.3 million population, a mixture of different national influences. The fields of opportunities open to foreign investors together with a sound macroeconomic enviroment is an enhancement to competition and provides of additional opportunities for investment and trade. The country s economy has been traditionally built on agriculture with its most important agricultural region in the central Cibao Valley, with sugar holding a preeminent position, followed by coffee, tobacco and cacao.
Mining is also a highly significant activity.
Gold and silver mine in Pueblo Viejo is the world s largest open-pit gold mine, and there are some exploring for petroleum all along the southern coast of the country. This has situated the Dominican Republic in the 31st. Industrial free zones granted duty free passage of raw materials and finished products, and are geared for export under the benefits of the Caribbean Basin Initiative been the most successful of all the Basin countries. Over 250 foreign companies operate in the Dominican Republic Free Zone industrial parks. Textile plants are the most important followed by electronics.