New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) India has assured the Dominican Republic that it will encourage Indian businessmen to invest in the Caribbean nation’s hospitality, tourism, renewable energy sources, film industry and IT sectors.

‘We would like to encourage Indian businessmen to invest in the Dominican Republic in potential areas for mutually beneficial partnership. There is enormous scope in renewable energy sources, hospitality, tourism, film industry and animation and IT sectors,’ said Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed.

He was speaking at a seminar on ‘India-Dominican Republic: Trade and Investment’, attended by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Reyna.

The Indian minister said that while the current bilateral trade of $100 million was not very large, ‘we are conscious of the vast potential that exists for greater trade and investment in the Dominican Republic’.

‘We look at the Dominican Republic as a bridge between the Caribbean and central American region as well as a gateway to north American markets,’ he said.