Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 24, 2015. The time taken to set-up a new business will now be reduced from 21 working days to just 7 working days following the formalization of a ‘one-stop-shop’ operation implemented by five chambers of commerce in the border provinces of the Dominican Republic.

The chambers of commerce of Barahona, San Juan, Dajabón, Montecristi and Santiago Rodriguez have received a donation of electronic equipment comprising of computers, laptops, printers, projects and UPS’s from The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) as part of the Trade Component of the Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational Programme, funded by the European Union in the framework of the 10th European Development Funds (EDF).

The donation ceremony took place at the premises of the Chamber of Commerce of Santo Domingo bringing together Antonio Vargas Hernandez, National Authorising Officer for the European Development Funds, and the Director of the Directorate General of Multilateral Cooperation (DIGECOOM), Mr. Humberto Perez, Trade Officer of the Delegation of the European Union in the Dominican Republic on behalf of Ambassador Alberto Navarro, along with Escipión Oliveira, Deputy Executive Director, Caribbean Export who officially made the donation of equipment to the Federation of Dominican Chambers of Commerce (FEDOCAMARAS), represented by its President Mr. Pedro Pérez.

The Chambers will use the equipment to support their operational development formalising their ‘one-stop-shop’ operation for the provision of a digital channel for companies utilize which brings together and streamlines various components such as the Tax Authority, Intellectual Property Authority, Social Security, and the Ministry of Labour, with the Chambers of Commerce reducing the new business setting up time from 21 to 7 working days.

The equipment donation is part of the Binational Program Haiti-Dominican Republic Trade component, funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), which provides a total contribution of €7.2 million to strengthen trade, investment promotion, customs and the private sector in both countries to help achieve sustainable development through cooperation and collaboration between the public and private sectors. During the programme to date equipment has also been purchased and donated to the Haitian and Dominican Ministries of Industry and Commerce, and respective Investment Promotion Agencies.

About Caribbean Export

Caribbean Export is a regional export development and trade and investment promotion organisation of the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM) currently executing the Regional Private Sector Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Export’s mission is to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing quality export development and trade and investment promotion services through effective programme execution and strategic alliances.

More information about Caribbean Export can be found at www.carib-export.com. Contact: JoEllen Laryea, PR and Communications, Caribbean Export Development Agency, Tel: +1(246) 436-0578, Fax: +1(246) 436-9999, Email: [email protected]

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From left to right: Escipión Oliviera, Caribbean Export Deputy Executive Director; Humberto Pérez, Commerce Official, European Union Delegation in representation of Ambassador Alberto Navarro; Antonio Vargas, National Authorizing Officer and Director of Dirección General de Cooperación Multilateral (DIGECOOM); and Pedro Pérez, President of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Dominican Chambers of Commerce (FEDOCAMARAS).