The Dominican Republic is a global leader in the production and export of medical devices, with 42 companies—located mostly in free-trade zone parks—exporting US$2.8 billion per year, representing 22.2% of total exports, backed by an accumulated investment of US$1.94 billion and generating 33,525 direct jobs.
The information was provided yesterday by President Luis Abinader during the weekly briefing LA Semanal at the National Palace, focused on the theme “Medical equipment manufactured in the DR and exported to the world.” He also addressed the production of electronic devices in the country’s 29 free-trade zone companies.
He explained that the country ranks 7th among the world’s top 10 medical device manufacturing companies, citing firms such as Medtronic, Cardinal Health, Baxter, Becton Dickinson, Fresenius Medical Care, B. Braun, and Medline, which operate manufacturing and export facilities in the Dominican Republic.
The main products manufactured include medical devices, transfusion equipment, blood pressure monitoring equipment, disposable surgical items, surgical sutures, ostomy bags, neurosurgical valves, biopsy needles, and respiratory-care products.
Export destinations:
- 72.2% of these goods are exported to the United States
- 6.0% to Puerto Rico
- 5.0% to the Netherlands
- 2.6% to China
He stated that the Dominican Republic is the third-largest exporter in the Caribbean and Central America of this type of product to the United States, behind only Mexico and Costa Rica.
The country also produces and exports electrical and electronic equipment, manufactured in 29 companies that exported US$1.164 billion in 2024, representing 14% of free-trade zone exports and 9% of national exports, generating 10,416 direct and 25,792 indirect jobs.
The most exported goods include switches, smartphones, electronic door locks, electrical connectors, transformers, sensors, alarm keypads, and electronic components. The main export markets are the United States (87%), Puerto Rico (10.8%), the United Arab Emirates (1.1%), and the Netherlands and Hong Kong.
Trip to the Unisted States
President Abinader announced that he will travel on Thursday to San José, California, along with a group of business leaders, to participate in the Annual Semiconductor Meeting, to which the country was invited in recognition of its “efforts and actions to build a solid and reliable ecosystem that positions it as a safe destination for investment in that subsector.”
Haiti situation
Regarding the situation in neighboring Haiti, President Abinader stated that the border remains a national priority and that continuous monitoring is maintained.
On reports of flights over the border area with Haiti, Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre said that aerial operations in the zone are normal and carried out by State security agencies to protect national territory.
Informe del apagón
Joel Santos, Minister of Energy and Mines, alongside President Abinader, stated that the causes of the nationwide blackout that occurred last Tuesday are being analyzed, and that 65% of the evaluation is complete.
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