When the Dominican Republic’s hurricane and rain season starts up in June, and continues through to November, many of its residents living in the Guajimia region can begin to worry a bit less about flooding and polluted, stagnant water having a long-term impact on their health.
A Win for DominicansIn early 2022, the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) reached a financial agreement for a USD $50M government to government (G2G) contract with the Corporación del Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Santo Domingo (CAASD) – the water authority for Greater Santo Domingo. The agreement was the result of concerted joint efforts between CCC and Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service in the Dominican Republic to advance the project. The financing was then arranged by JP Morgan, with a sovereign risk insurance provided by Export Development Canada (EDC).
Improving Quality of Life of 350,000 People
The G2G contract will enable the Canadian company Groupe Helios to deliver the second phase of the rehabilitation of the Guajimia storm and sanitary canal project. It will involve the cleaning of a segment of the Guajimia ravine, and the construction of 384 apartments that will help relocate the nearly 350,000 residents living along a portion of the canal.
“CCC is pleased to work with CAASD to advance a project that will help the residents living in this area of the Dominican Republic,” says Cristina Amiama, Export Sales Manager at the Canadian Commercial Corporation. “This significant project will have a major impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.”
Expanding Potable Water and Sewerage Networks
The Dominican Republic’s Guajimia ravine is a long basin that runs more than 13.5km – or about 18km counting its offshoots and sub-basins.
Phase 1 of the Guajimia project was completed in 2012 through a G2G contract with CCC. The first phase took nearly a decade to complete and included the construction of more than 800 apartments for the area’s locals as well as the expansion of potable water and sewerage networks.
Residents living in these areas along the waterway have long been exposed to inadequate disposal of sewage and solid waste management – causing environmental and health risks.
The second phase of the Guajimia project will reduce the environmental and health risks caused by the inadequate disposal of sewage and solid waste. It will not only improve the quality of life of the residents of Santo Domingo, but it will also generate local jobs.
Exporting Canadian technology and expertise
Groupe Helios has been in business for nearly 40 years. It specializes in the management, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure in the water, building, recreational, and industrial sectors.
CCC will oversee the delivery of phase 2 of the project as the prime contractor, offering the CAASD its Government of Canada guarantee of contract performance. As the subcontractor, Groupe Helios will provide Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services to rehabilitate the Guajimia storm and sanitary canal – specifically the upper part of the Guajimia ravine basin and its affluents.
Fostering Commercial Ties
In the fall of 2021, CCC’s President and CEO, Bobby Kwon, joined a Canadian delegation of public and private sector representatives for a three-day trade mission to the Dominican Republic. The mission was organized by the Dominican Republic’s embassy in Canada, to help foster and expand commercial relations between our countries. The mission helped cement the G2G contract to build the second phase of the Guajimia project.
“We appreciate the confidence that the Government of the Dominican Republic has demonstrated to date in Canadian expertise and technology,” said H.E Christine Laberge, Ambassador of Canada to the Dominican Republic.
Delivering Canada to the World
CCC continues to work closely with the Trade Commissioner Service and the Canadian Embassy in the DR to explore and advance other commercial opportunities through the International Prime Contractor Program, particularly in water, wastewater and sanitation, aerospace, and infrastructure sectors.
As Canada’s G2G contracting agency, CCC is helping to bring qualified Canadian companies of all sizes together with government buyers in the Dominican Republic. Through our expertise in contracting, we support Canadian businesses to build successful commercial relationships with the Dominican government – improving the lives of people by delivering made-in-Canada solutions.
To learn more about CCC’s International Prime Contractor Program visit: International Prime Contractor.
