Fernando Capellán calls for Dominican Republic-Haiti economic integration

Businessman Fernando Capellán, founder and president of Grupo M and the Codevi industrial park, has called for economic integration between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Speaking at the 41st session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Capellán argued that job creation, private investment, and cooperation should be prioritized over political tensions that hinder improvements in living conditions.

Capellán highlighted his company's 23 years of operations in Haiti near the Dominican border through the Codevi industrial circuit. He noted that these operations currently generate between 18,000 and 19,000 jobs and have established a local ecosystem including schools, childcare centers, a polyclinic, and reforestation projects. He emphasized that while the relationship must respect the sovereignty and laws of both nations, it should be viewed as an opportunity for mutual development.

According to Capellán, the two nations are commercially interdependent, noting that the Dominican Republic formally exported approximately $1.2 billion to Haiti in 2025, a figure that does not include informal trade.