- The President explained to global leaders the country’s competitive advantages to attract foreign capital, expand free zones and strengthen nearshoring
Addressing business leaders, investors and representatives of the free zone sector on Wednesday, President Luis Abinader presented the Dominican Republic as one of the best investment decisions in the hemisphere, highlighting the strengths that position the country as a reliable, competitive and strategic destination for global investment.
During his participation in the 12th World Congress of Free Trade Zones, the president gave the keynote speech entitled “Free Trade Zones of the Dominican Republic: engine of productive transformation and global competitiveness”, where he highlighted the country’s performance in terms of foreign investment, economic stability, legal certainty, advanced manufacturing, nearshoring and export competitiveness.
During his speech, the head of state presented the Dominican case as a story of economic transformation underway, highlighting how the country has turned its free zones into the driving force of growth, competitiveness and global integration.
“Today, the Dominican Republic is one of the best investment decisions in the hemisphere,” said the president, noting that the country not only resists but stands out in a global scenario marked by the restructuring of value chains and the repositioning of investment.
He indicated that, in the current context, investors are looking for security, predictability and profitability, assuring that in the Dominican Republic “investing is simple, operating is efficient and growth is possible.”
“But there is something even more important: investors find a partner, not just a destination in the Dominican Republic ” he said.
The president said that the country not only offers industrial parks, but entire investment ecosystems where advanced manufacturing, global services and the digital economy converge, as part of a strategy aimed at reducing risks, accelerating returns and opening doors to new markets.
Free Trade Zones: Pillar of the Dominican Economy
President Abinader emphasized that the free zones create more than 200 thousand jobs, represent more than 60% of national exports and constitute one of the most solid pillars of the Dominican economy.
He also pointed out that with more than 850 companies and a network of industrial parks distributed nationwide, the Dominican Republic has built a robust, diversified and constantly evolving productive ecosystem.
He said sectors such as medical devices, the electrical industry, BPO, tobacco, and logistics reflect the country’s ability to compete and lead in various productive segments.
“Today, global capital is looking for destinations where it can grow with confidence and scale quickly. The Dominican Republic offers exactly that: speed, stability and long-term vision,” he said.
He went on to say that the country does not compete in costs alone, but also in results. “And that, in today’s world, makes the difference between investing and leading.”
All-time record of foreign investment
The president said that international confidence in the Dominican Republic is reflected in concrete figures, highlighting that the country has exceeded 35 billion dollars accumulated in foreign direct investment over the last decade.
He also reported that, in 2025, the country registered a record of more than 5,000 million dollars in foreign direct investment and assured that the trend is to continue surpassing these milestones year after year.
“However, the quality of that investment more important than the quantity,” the president said, indicating that the country is attracting capital to strategic sectors, value industries and future-oriented projects.
“Today we are attracting capital to strategic sectors, to value industries, to projects that build and shape the future,” he said.
New investments and looking ahead
During his presentation, President Abinader pointed out that large global companies continue to bet on the Dominican Republic and mentioned projects from technology companies such as Google and NVIDIA. “Projects from technology companies such as Google or NVIDIA not only validate our model; they project it into the future,” he said.
He also highlighted initiatives such as the development of the spaceport in Pedernales, as a reflection of the country’s vision focused on tomorrow.
Nearshoring and strategic position
The president stated that nearshoring is no longer a trend, but a reality, and stressed that the Dominican Republic occupies a privileged strategic position within the new global trade map.
He stressed that the country has access to more than 1,200 million consumers through its network of trade agreements, allowing companies to produce with preferential advantages and competitively reach markets such as the United States, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.
“Producing in the Dominican Republic is not only about producing well; it is producing with access, efficiency and with a global scale,” he said, adding that “In short, producing in the Dominican Republic is producing for the world and doing so with a competitive advantage.”
Evolution of the free zone model
The head of state explained that the country’s free zone model has evolved from a scheme aimed at generating employment and attracting investment to a new stage focused on technology transfer, innovation, and productive sophistication.
He indicated that today the objective is not only to grow, but to do so with courage, intelligence, and sustainability.
“We are talking about advanced manufacturing. We are talking about logistics integration. We are talking about artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and industry 4.0. But, above all, we are talking about a country that has been able to reinvent itself,” he said.
He also said that the Dominican Republic has gone from competing on costs to competing on capabilities, integrating complex production processes and increasingly sophisticated supply chains.
“Today our free zones not only produce goods; they produce solutions, innovation, and added value,” he said.
Legal certainty, trust and efficiency
President Abinader also highlighted the country’s competitive legal framework, supported by clear rules, stability and legal certainty for investors and explained how Law 8-90 and recent reforms have consolidated a framework that combines incentives with stability and competitiveness with certainty.
“In Dominican Republic, that trust is built with institutions, clear rules and a firm commitment to the rule of law,” he said.
He also highlighted the country’s non-fiscal advantages, including competitive human resources, specialized training, operational efficiency, agile logistics, and public-private coordination.
“Because we understand something fundamental, and that is that competitiveness is not measured in costs alone, in today’s world it is measured in efficiency,” he stated, adding that “In the Dominican Republic, investing is not complex, it’s efficient, agile, and expandable.”
An invitation to invest in Dominican Republic
While concluding his address, the president invited businessmen and investors to visit the Dominican Republic and learn first-hand about the opportunities offered by the country.
“The Dominican Republic is not just a growing economy. It is an economy that knows where it is going. So, come see for yourselves. Come and invest, yes. But also come and discover,” he said.
President Abinader concluded by highlighting that the Dominican Republic is not just an investment destination, but a place where the future has already begun. “Because when you get to know the Dominican Republic, you understand that it is not just an investment destination. It is a place where the future has already begun, where we want to build it with you, with Caribbean passion and with Dominican conviction.”
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