The American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AMCHAMDR) held its traditional monthly luncheon in February, with the participation of the Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs, Víctor Ito Bisonó, as guest speaker and guest of honor. During his remarks, the minister highlighted the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between the Dominican Republic and the United States, focusing on attracting strategic investment, modernizing the business environment, and integrating the country into global value chains.
"The relationship between the Dominican Republic and the United States has evolved into an alliance of profound strategic impact. The recent visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a clear message: the new U.S. administration recognizes us as a key ally for regional growth and stability," Bisonó said.
In this regard, the minister highlighted the country's progress in strategic sectors and the consolidation of nearshoring as a fundamental pillar of economic development, emphasizing the role the Dominican Republic plays in the reconfiguration of global supply chains. He emphasized that the country has ceased to be a peripheral destination and has become a strategic partner for companies seeking to optimize their operations in a secure, competitive environment with preferential access to priority markets.
During his speech, Bisonó highlighted the positive impact of Dominican trade policy, as evidenced by the growth of foreign trade. In 2024, Dominican exports to the United States reached $6.915 billion, representing a year-over-year growth of 71% in 3Q. He also highlighted the importance of the Dominican Agribusiness Board's laboratory certification, which will allow the export of meat products to the US market under international standards.
Bisonó indicated that work has been done to modernize the regulatory framework to ensure greater competitiveness and stated that "a key milestone is the new Law 30-24 on Logistics Centers, Logistics Center Operating Companies, and Logistics Operating Companies, which, as president of the Logistics Development Cabinet, we promoted and achieved through consensus."
He announced that the draft of the National Strategy for the Promotion of the Semiconductor Industry (ENFIS), within the framework of the Presidential Decree 324-24 It is already ready and they hope to present it in March.
In his welcoming remarks, AMCHAMDR President Edwin De los Santos highlighted the importance of strengthening trade relations with the United States and the Dominican Republic's key role in regional trade. He also called for continued advocacy for ordering global trade rules and expanding the dialogue table as a central tool for discussion among nations.
“With regard to the trade environment, the world is currently experiencing a shake-up of the foundations on which trade globalization rests, impacting global supply chains and exposing weaknesses in the system. Faced with these disruptions, we must ask ourselves what is missing in the global trade order to avoid restrictive unilateral measures that affect cross-border trade. The international environment must at all costs avoid becoming stuck in the Stiglitz dilemma, according to which the problem is not globalization, but the way it is managed,” De los Santos stated.
