Dominican Republic free trade zones seek concrete action to boost competitiveness

The Executive Board of the Free Trade Zone Sector in the Dominican Republic is calling for a transition from consensus to concrete, measurable actions to bolster the sector's competitiveness. During a working session at the META RD 2036 Forum, coordinated by businessman Miguel Lama, representatives from the government, private sector, and academia identified strategic initiatives to address challenges in international trade.

Key challenges identified include uncertainty regarding United States tariff policies—the primary export market for Dominican free zones—and increasing competition from other nations with better market access. The group also highlighted the need to bridge the gap between academic training and industrial requirements, focusing on human capital development, attracting specialized talent, and improving coordination between universities and the private sector.

The proposed strategic initiatives cover eight key areas: financial tools, streamlining permits, international promotion, human talent development, infrastructure, and public-private coordination mechanisms.