The meeting served as a firsthand opportunity to learn about the opportunities offered by the Caribbean country as a strategic partner, as well as specific investment projects in priority sectors.
The Dominican Republic's Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs, Ito Bisonó, has highlighted the possibilities for collaboration and investment opportunities in key sectors on the island, such as energy, free trade zones, agribusiness, and tourism.
This was stated during the CEOE business meeting "Dominican Republic: Strategic Caribbean Platform for Spanish Investment," held as part of the Ibero-American Key Conference Series.
The event, which was opened by Miguel Garrido, First Vice President of CEOE and President of CEIM, and Jaime Montalvo, International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, also featured speakers from the Dominican Republic's ambassador to Spain, Tony Raful Tejada.
The meeting served as a firsthand opportunity to learn about the opportunities the country offers as a strategic partner, as well as specific investment projects in priority sectors.
Jaime Montalvo, the international director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that the Dominican Republic's many assets—from its strategic location to trade agreements with the region, infrastructure, legal framework, and incentives—make the country "an important destination for foreign investment, and particularly for Spanish investment."
This encompasses not only established sectors such as food and tourism, but also others such as healthcare, for which the Dominican Republic represents a bridge to major markets like the United States. According to Montalvo, "this is especially valuable in the context of trade tensions like the tariffs we are experiencing."
The Dominican Republic has positioned itself as a strategic player in the region, thanks to its preferential access to various markets, a very favorable regulatory framework, and an excellent location.
This was stated by the Spanish ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Tony Raful, highlighting the preferential access to 1.2 billion consumers thanks to the various agreements it maintains.
In 2023, the island attracted more than US$4.3 billion in foreign investment in key sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, and energy, areas in which Spain plays a key role.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN STRATEGIC SECTORS
In his speech, the Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs of the Dominican Republic, Ito Bisonó, emphasized that the country has overcome significant challenges in recent years, consolidating its position as a stable, modern, and strategic economy in the region.
"The Dominican Republic has undergone a profound transformation. Today, we are a competitive country, with growth of around 5% in 2024, positioning us as a regional leader in Latin America," he emphasized.
Bisonó attributed this performance to a strong policy of public-private partnerships, which has strengthened the country's position in a world demanding more reliable and resilient supply chains.
As examples of this strategic vision, he mentioned initiatives such as the Logistics Centers Law, the Manzanillo industrial and logistics project, and the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone, which will expand air connectivity with more than 300 cities around the world.
Added to this is the expansion of the port and the modernization of the airport, which reinforce the country's position as a regional logistics hub.
Finally, the minister emphasized that the Dominican Republic is consolidating its position as an ideal platform for accessing third-party markets and establishing industrial and commercial operations.
"We are a natural bridge between North America, Central America, and Europe," he stated, noting that in 2024, the European Union was the second-largest destination for Dominican exports, while the United States remains the main economic partner.
