Contacts:
In Washington: Stevan Jackson (202) 458 5054
sjackson@worldbank.org; In Santo Domingo: Alejandra De La Paz (809) 556-6815, Ext. 256 adelapaz@worldbank.org WASHINGTON, January 26, 2006 – World Bank Regional Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean Pamela Cox concluded her first visit to the Dominican Republictoday where she met with President Leonel Fernández Reyna, public officials and civil society. “This is my first visit to the Dominican Republic as Vice President of the World Bank’s Latin American and Caribbean region,” said Ms. Cox. “The country is experiencing an impressive return to economic growth. Now is the time to address poverty reduction, inequality and improve the quality and quantity of investment in education and health.” During her four-day visit, beginning January 23, Ms. Cox met high ranking DR Government representatives, including President Leonel Fernández Reyna, Andrés Bautista García, President of the Senate, Hector Valdez Albizu, Central Bank Governor, Ing. Juan Temistocles Montás, Presidency’s Technical Secretary, to hear about the steps the Government is taking to improve economic stability and growth. She also met with representatives of civil society, the private sector, youth groups and Dominican citizens, including a visit to an evening school offering Primary Education for Adults Program (EBA) and High School Distance Learning Program for Adults (PREPARA). Ms. Cox also visited the Bahoruco and Independencia provinces near the Dominican-Haitian border, the poorest region in the country, where the Bank is supporting improvements in health care. The visit included meetings with users and providers of health services in Batey 2, Neyba, and Jimani. “As in all countries in Latin America, there is an urgent need to create equality of opportunities for the poor to improve their lives and increase their ability to contribute,” said Ms. Cox. “The World Bank is committed to supporting the Dominican Republic in these efforts to ensure that renewed growth contributes to more rapid poverty reduction than in the past” she added. The visit comes eight months after the World Bank approved the institution’s Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the Dominican Republic, which projects financial assistance of up to US$360 million between 2006 and 2009, as well as technical and advisory services. - | 
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