The Dominican economy rests upon four pillars: agriculture, mining and quarrying, tourism, and trade free zones.

In recent years, the tourism and free trade zones were the most dynamic.

The agricultural main export products are coffee, cocoa, cane sugar, pineapples, oranges, bananas, flowers and vegetables.

The mining industry production is centered in the Cibao region where the big iron nickel deposits are. Salt and marble are also exported..

The national currency is the Dominican Peso.

Its real value is attached to the Dollar and it is determined by supply and demand.

The inflation rate is under 4% and the gross national product increases around approx. 5% in the year.

The country is developing at a brisk pace.

Banks are as secure as American banks.

Most foreigners living here have two accounts, one in a bank in Miami, where they write out checks in dollars, and a second account in a local bank to cover routine expenses and bills by check.

You can also have a term deposit system in Dominican pesos at a local bank, with an interest of 11 - 17% for a duration of 3 - 12 months.

These high interest rates have held the inflation below 4% per year and have stabilized the exchange rate.

and excellent roads, which allow you to move around the country.

Public land transportation takes place by autobuses, minibuses, public cars, and “Moto Conchos” (Motor taxi)

There are buses that operate everywhere according to fixed schedules within the country.

A great number of taxis are available at the airports and in the most important cities.

Visitors with valid driving licenses can use them for a maximum of 90 days without further administrative expenditure.

There is a speed limit of 80 kph in the highways, 60 kph in the suburbs, and 40 kph in the city.

The Dominican Republic has one of the best communication networks in the continent.

The carrier Verizon, Orange and Tricom have with the necessary infrastructure for communication, both at the domestic and international levels, for voice, data and video

Fax, videoconferences, mobile and wireless phones, beepers, and Internet, as well as other numerous devices are available.

Medical Services can be rated as very good.

There are approx. 130 hospitals and about 12.000 registered doctors who studied in the USA and in Europe.

The living standards are similar to those of Germany. It is possible to get reasonably good utilities at good prices.

Real estate is going up and will rise to higher valuation in the coming years, particularly in the tourist regions.