ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Dominica and China have signed a new US$300 million cooperation agreement that includes the construction of a hotel, construction of an international airport and building a new hospital.
The agreement was signed between Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the president of Chinese company Anhui Shuian Construction (ASCG) Xue Song early last month.
According to ASCG, the hotel, to be situated in Roseau, will be the first to be constructed at a cost of US$70 million.
The Chinese government will provide a preferential loan to support the projects.
ASCG’s general manager Wang Yueyuan said since both countries established diplomatic relations in 2004, China has strengthened its cooperation with Dominica.
Meanwhile, a government statement said that a team of Chinese officials is now on the island inspecting the site for the construction of the five-star hotel in the capital.
The statement quoted Skerrit as having declared during the 2013-14 national budget that the design works for the hotel had been completed and an offer of financing and for the construction was being considered by the government.
“The construction of the hotel …is part of government’s commitment to making the tourism product more competitive and for enhancing stay over visitor capacity on island,” the statement added.