Received by Registration Unit 02/12/2018 From: Bebema?nn Bcc: tharo?maiL house Gov"; "aid ravishankaergil house. gov"; h? Lamb tn n??r@mail. house. gov" k??atheringanne maso?mai ?house?y"; :jgsh ug h.ouse ,i?jasgn. giellar@m?il. house. Winslow "man mgmurrg12@mail holisg ng" "2 h. rm II ho se. ov"; gov"; "branggn. bagthail. house gov"; "g had. yglinski@mai ?Mugging" mail. "laura. de?er?mail gov"; "patrick megahan@mail "m mg! hgpg. v" ,?i'antgnella .davalos@m?il housg. ggy"; ir house gov?; "mark "n il mall house ov"; "Don ma ilh my 'Qiero. tozzi@mail. hgusg. gov", "Iina. dakheel@m?il hbusggov ri v" "clay. boggs@mail. h9g5; nous govv v" "tail Q[,an chag?Qmailmguse. gov? "iames walsh@__il. house. qov"; "sara. mail "jatg gutman@booker. ggv? "Inagg ?ajegy@fgrevign sgnatg. gov" "jm gurtsingechorker.xn atg. gov" gonnelly@?ake En ate 'ngr at: gov ,"man gv senate. gov"; "carol go" kalari5@kainesen nate gov v" "grah arkin@m?nendez senate. gov"; "Vernon r9binmn?h$ac senate gov' "cbtis so; hag; JIjgh. sen.ate 991?; . Lmattbemadi?a?omuda?xnatem; "vi hmrh.n.'v Subject: . Dominican Republic News Update Date: - Monday, February 12, 2018 2:22:00 PM Attachments: I thought you might be intereSted in the latest developments regarding the Dominican Republic. This material is distributed by Ballard Partners on behalfofthe Government of the Dominican Republic. Additional information is available at the Department ofJustice, Washington, DC. . . The Dominican Republic Works to Diversify Its Energy Mix -The has arranged an $80 million ?nancing package for a SOMW wind farm on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, which is expected to become operational In early 20 I 9, and will reduce 9 ,000 tons of C02 emissions annually. -The Dominican Republic IS vulnerable to many issues associated with climate change, such as, rising sea levels, coral bleaching, and the changing frequency In tropical storms. Therefore, it has set a target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030, with efforts to cut its reliance on fossil fuels. 547 ?Minanciai- package- SOmw- dominican? Droiect . New Initiatives to Fight Zika and Malaria Give Hope to the Dominican Republic -Bill Gates has pledged $31 million to the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative (RMEI), which brings the total of new funds to $83. 6 million, and will be used to tackle Malaria in the region as well as to combat other mosquito earring diseases, like Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya. -Altli_ough Malaria cases in Central America have dropped 90% since 2000, there were more than 40, 270 cases reported In 2016. -WeRob0tics wants to use their drones to release sterile mosquitos into Latin America and the Dominican Republic, to curb the spread of Zika, Klaptocz, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever. The company has recently used drones to transport medicine and medical samples to Peru . and the Dominican Republic the aria cli inaticin plan? with 31 million? 2018? 1?r= lireliefweb. Int/reoort/world/mosouIto? packed ?drones could? ?2ive? extra bite- zika- fight The Government of the Dominican Republic Awards Medals of Merit to 1,039 Public Servants. Received by Registration Unit 02/12/2018 2:35:10 PM Received by Registration ?Unit 02/12/2018 2:35: 10 PM -The Minister of Public Administration awarded ,039 public servants with the Medal of Merit, and an additional 30 for their high quali?cations In their evaluation performance. publicosz - Tourism Rises in the Dominican Republic in 2017 -Visitor arrivals grew by 4. 2% in 20] 7, with 56 4% oftourists coming from North America 4. 6% from Central America and the Caribbean l2. 8% from South America, and 25 9% from Europe. -The Dominican Republic received more than I. 5 million cruise passengers during 2017, which is a record number ofvisitors, and Is a 37% growth since 20l6. httoS://acento . Progress In the Dominican Republic Commercial Sector Leads to Growth In the Economy . -The commercial sector represents 10% ofthe GDP, which has given rise to the Dominican Republic economy. It also employs 44% ofpeople employed by micro, small, and medium? sized companies -The Dominican Republic passed a Law 187- 17 last year, which de?ned business classi?cations and allowed the launch ofa Digital Republic platform that will speed- -up and simplify the applications for companies when applying for certain certi?cations . -The govemment? 5 next step will be a Simpli?ed Taxation Program that will make it easier for businesses to file theirtaxes All the best, Rebecca Benn enema] para-races Ballard Partners . 601 Thirteenth St, NW, Suite #200 Washington, DC 20005 P: 202.800.5620 F: 202.800.5623 re rdf .com Received by Registration Unit 02/12/2018 2:35:10 PM .