HOT Summer Seminar: “Doing Business in Latin America”
New York, May 28, 2009

When and Where?
•Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1, 2009.
• 6.00 pm - 8:00 pm
• Venue: Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE).
Capitán Eugenio de Marchena, 26
Las Esperilla, Santo Domingo
República Dominicana
Tel: (809) 685-9966
Fax: (809) 685-9926

The internship program InteRDom, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), will present as part of its 2009 summer academic program the seminar “Doing Business in Latin America.” The event will take place Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1. The seminar will be realized in partnership with The World Bank group “Doing Business.”

The Dominican Republic has one of the largest economies in the Latin American and Caribbean region. “Doing Business” ranks the Dominican Republic as the country that has undergone the greatest number of economic reforms during the period of 2007-2008. The purpose of the seminar is to provide insight into the type of economic development that has taken place in the country and to analyze how related social and political phenomenon are transforming Dominican society.

The program will be divided into two sessions. The first session will present the findings of The World Bank study “Doing Business,” placing particular emphasis on economic growth in the Dominican Republic. The second session will be interactive and group-oriented. Participants will be provided with a number of tools with which they will assess economic conditions in the country and identify best business practices.

According to The World Bank report, between 2007 and 2008, the country reduced entry taxes for new business from 30% to 25%; lifted numerous other taxes (including the stamp tax); and lowered property transfer taxes. In 2007, the country also completed its online tax filing and payment system, which was introduced as a pilot program in 2006. This year, the country became part of a group of ten countries recognized for comprehensive commercial reforms and regulations.

InteRDom is the premier internship and academic study program in the Dominican Republic. It offers international students the opportunity to obtain professional experience by interning with Dominican organizations and businesses related to their fields of study, complemented by courses and seminars at local universities. InteRDom was launched in 2005. The Program has since provided internship opportunities to students from more than 30 international universities.

Summer seminars are open to the public and represent an excellent opportunity for cultural exchange, gathering students from the Dominican Republic, the United States and Haiti.

Persons interested in attending the summer seminars should send an email to: intern@interdominternships.org

About the speaker: Jean Michel Lobet joined the Doing Business project in October of 2006. Before joining the World Bank Group, he worked in an area related to judicial reform in other international organizations in Washington D.C.