It is estimated that PDAB Port Investments Sociedad Gestora, SA will make an investment of US$68 million, equivalent to RD$3.8 billion, and, according to estimates, during the term of the contract the State will receive a net income of US$1.75 per cruise passenger and US$0.53 for the monthly lease per square meter used in the project, which in the 33 years of the contract will generate US$115.6 million in income for the Dominican State.
SANTO DOMINGO. The Dominican Port Authority (Apordom) finalized the signing of the first public-private partnership contract with PDAB Port Investments Sociedad Gestora, SA for the execution of the project to convert the Duarte Port in Arroyo Barril-Samaná into a cruise terminal.
The document was signed at the National Palace by the executive director of the Port Authority, Jean Luis Rodríguez, representing the Dominican State, and the general manager of PDAB Port Investments Sociedad Gestora, SA, Mauricio Hamui; in the presence of the Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos Echavarría; and the technical sub-director of the DGAPP, Eliardo Cairo, representing the project structuring unit that will be carried out under the APP model.
This initiative, which was awarded at the end of March of this year after a competitive process, proposes the rehabilitation and construction of an infrastructure that will allow the arrival of Oasis class vessels, the largest in the cruise industry, as well as developing a terminal with the capacity to receive four cruise ships at the same time, explains a press release from the Ministry of the Presidency.
This new cruise terminal, to be developed in Arroyo Barril, would join the existing Amber Cove and Taino Bay in Puerto Plata, Romana Cruise Terminal in La Romana and Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales, and with this, the country would be provided with five tourist ports with adequate infrastructure to receive large capacity vessels.
For the commissioning of this terminal, it is estimated that PDAB Port Investments Sociedad Gestora, SA will make an investment of US$68 million, equivalent to RD$3.8 billion and, according to estimates, during the term of the contract the State will receive a net income of US$1.75 per cruise passenger and US$0.53 for the monthly lease per square meter used in the project, which in the 33 years of the contract will generate US$115.6 million in income for the Dominican State.
The Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos Echavarría, stated that “this cruise terminal in Samaná is part of the strategic plan for one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy, which is the tourism sector, which in turn has a relationship with many other sectors of the economy, highlighting that, within that same line, “we as a country have gone out to put ourselves on the map in different destinations and to seek tourists of different categories where the cruise tourist is found.”
The official assured that for this cruise strategy to work, which is very particular, it requires a specialization, highlighting that PDAB Port Investments Sociedad Gestora, SA has a high rating to not only be a suitable partner in this type of project, but will also be doing so with the Government in Pedernales and Barahona.
Santos Echavarría also highlighted that they are strengthening this complementary offering through a theme park, which is not only of interest to the cruise terminal itself but also to the province of Samaná, which has both hotel and real estate development.
“The DGAPP has done an excellent job in promoting public-private partnerships and is also another important element that this Government is paying close attention to,” he said.
Likewise, the executive director of Apordom, Jean Luis Rodríguez, indicated that this is the first time in the history of the Dominican Republic that the concession of a port is carried out through a public-private partnership, since they are generally established through concessions, as provided by Law 70-70 that creates the Dominican Port Authority.
He assured that this new cruise terminal will represent an opportunity to generate new jobs and businesses in Samaná and enhance the tourism offer, which he said will lead to social and economic development for the entire Northeast region and the Central Cibao.
Rodríguez explained that this terminal is expected to receive 161 ships per year, carrying approximately 3,300 passengers, from Miami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Curaçao, Barbados, Montego Bay, St. Lucia, Tampa Bay, and New York. “This terminal is designed to accommodate up to one million visitors annually, which will undoubtedly help solidify our country's position as a Caribbean cruise hub,” the official stated.
The general manager or CEO of PDAB Port Investments Sociedad Gestora, SA, Mauricio Hamui, pointed out that the port of Arroyo Barril will be an engine of the economy for the entire province of Samaná, will bring wealth to all corners of the province and will generate sources of employment in this locality.
In a few brief words, the technical deputy director of the DGAPP, Eliardo Cairo, highlighted his satisfaction with what he said is “a great milestone for the country, as this is the first infrastructure project that will be developed through a public-private partnership contract, under the tutelage of Law 47-20, which has only been enacted and in force in Dominican legislation for three years.”.
Cairo highlighted that this project is part of President Luis Abinader's government's decision to position the country as a Caribbean cruise hub, adding that this new terminal will boost tourism and commerce in the province, creating approximately 1,050 direct and indirect jobs.
