By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have signed a total of 11 bilateral agreements during a visit by Dominican President Danilo Medina to the American territory this week.

The cooperation agreements cover areas including trade, education, agriculture, tourism, the environment, security and job creation, among other areas.

Medina said the two sides also identified potential linkages between industry in both areas, along with several agreements that could reduce tuition for higher education.

Another agreement included the creation of a $500,000 annual fund to provide scholarships for Dominican students to study in degree and graduate programmes in Puerto Rican universities, which will be financed by equal contributions from both governments.

Additionally, the governments pledged to promote the teaching of English in the Dominican Republic, with help from the University of Puerto Rico.

Other pacts included investment promotion, environmental protection and natural resource management, among others.

Medina said his government and that of Puerto Rico met “on the same page.”