SANTO DOMINGO.- Canada’s ambassador designate on Sunday said tourism and trade with Dominican Republic have increased considerably in the last five years, as a result of the good relations between both nations.

Todd Kuiack said the number of Canadian visitors jumped from 300,000 to 700,000 in that period, for which most of current 200,000 employees in the tourism industry have already known a Canadian tourist.

He said trade between Canada and Dominican Republic has doubled in the last 5 years, from 100 million to 200 million dollars in exports, increase which has led the diplomats to transfer their offices to the Acropolis Center’s 18th floor. “We have grown together.”

The diplomat said the Embassy went from a limited space and a few employees to bigger premises and a high number of Canadian and local personnel, to increase and always maintain a high quality service for the public, “which shows Canada’s desire to continue bolstering those relations.”

Kuiack said diplomatic ties with his country, established in 1954, have been extremely successful and in constant growth. He cited the Canadian priest Louis Quinn and the nun Leonore Gibbs as an example of support of Dominican towns.

He also noted Scotiabank’s 90th anniversary in Dominican Republic in July next year, which he said has been always linked to the country’s economic development.