Gustavo Tavares, president of the organization, highlighted in his remarks the importance of economic diplomacy and the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(Santo Domingo, December 14, 2016). The American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR) had Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas as its guest at its last monthly luncheon of the year.

In his introductory remarks for AMCHAMDR's guest of honor, its president, Gustavo Tavares, spoke about the value proposition the organization will offer its members starting next January and linked it to the importance of bilateral relations with the United States for its success.

"Our Chamber's value proposition will be based on representing our members' interests in public decision-making spaces to improve the environment in which they invest, undertake, and develop their professional activities. Furthermore, we want to connect them with business opportunities, especially with the United States, a country that, following last November's elections, is heading into a new phase of its international relations," the businessman stated.

He also said that for the Dominican Republic, within this framework, it will be extremely important to understand the new U.S. administration's lines of action, especially those related to the economic agenda, due to its bilateral significance. "We have been able to see this in the Dominican Week in the United States that we have held over the past five years."

For AMCHAMDR, so-called economic diplomacy has gained relevance for some time now, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a crucial role in its exercise. "Understanding the steps being taken and the areas where the country's diplomatic agenda focuses becomes a decisive factor for AMCHAMDR to be efficient, precisely in representing the interests of our membership and in connecting our partners with trade, business, and investment opportunities," Tavares commented.

Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas highlighted the achievements of the first 100 days of his administration and reported on the progress made in the Dominican Republic through the DR-CAFTA agreement.

For his part, the Foreign Minister stated that "the United States remains our country's main trading partner," while emphasizing that the signing of this Interinstitutional Agreement between AMCHAMDR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets a precedent for public-private partnerships in foreign trade, "a significant action because it contributes to the sustainable development of our economy," the Foreign Minister affirmed.