HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuban and Dominican Republic businessmen and officials gathered in Santo Dominigo on Monday to witness the opening of Cuba's first trade mission in the Dominican Republic.

The main objective of the mission is to increase the level of bilateral exchanges, Berta Verdura, minister-counselor at the Cuban embassy in Santo Domingo, said in the opening ceremony, reported PL News Agency.

The 32 percent growth in trade during the first quarter of 2007 justifies the impetus for negotiation of a bilateral accord, said Verdura.

The diplomat invited Dominican business people to participate in the 2nd Business Forum of the 118-member Non Aligned Movement to take place in Havana on November 2-3.

Dominican Secretary of State Onofre Rojas, representing his government, along with Octavio Ramirez, deputy secretary of Industry and Commerce, welcomed the executives to the Cuba business show.

The Cuban business delegation is headed by Carmen Rodriguez, director of the Chamber of Commerce in the eastern region of the island, headquartered in Santiago de Cuba. Rodriguez gave a presentation on the opportunities for doing business in Cuba and the procedures involved.

Cuba offers services and products in the fields of hotels and catering, health products and services, light industry, metalworking industry, arts and crafts, furniture, veterinary medicine, sea transport and computer technology.