SANTO DOMINGO. - The United States economic slowdown has prompted numerous Florida investors to seek profits abroad, specifically in Dominican Republic.

That interest is shown by a company of engineers from Fort Myers, which opened an office in Las Terrenas, Samana peninsula (northeast); a real estate company is building condominiums in Cabrera and yet another investor is exploring the possibility of selling in an alternative to sculpted stone, and even transferring its production there.

"Our economy is weak, so we’re looking for opportunities at other sites," said Leonardo Garcia, executive director of Florida’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "The opportunity is given to people to invest and bring here the income they generate in Dominican Republic. That money will be invested in our local economy."

Lately Garcia and other Hispanic Chamber of Commerce representatives have been traveling frequently to Dominican Republic, to coordinate the inauguration  of businesses and help Florida investors make contacts in this country.

"Here the next Caribbean boom could be produced, something similar to what happened in Costa Rica 15 years ago," said Dean Martin, proprietor of TDM Engineering, which opened a branch in Las Terrenas in January. "We wanted to establish our presence at the ground floor."

 According to Martin people live in Las Terrenas the entire year, and it already boasts investors and tourists from Italy, Canada, Germany, Spain and France.

Source: listin.com.do