The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has affirmed that public-private partnerships (PPPs) are essential tools for the economic and social transformation of the Dominican Republic.
Gastón Astesiano, head of the PPP team at the IDB Vice Presidency for Countries, stated this during the symposium “Sustainable Infrastructure in the Dominican Republic: PPPs as a Growth Engine,” organized by the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP) with the support of the multilateral organization.
Astesiano emphasized that PPPs represent “a transformation tool that enables the Dominican Republic to advance toward competitiveness, resilience, and inclusion, provided that clear rules and a solid institutional framework are maintained.”
He also highlighted that the country has built a climate of trust between the State and the private sector, making it an attractive and secure destination for international capital.
Meanwhile, Denis Leduc, senior PPP specialist at the IDB, presented a detailed diagnosis of the region and the country’s infrastructure needs. He explained that the Dominican Republic needs to invest an average of 243 dollars per capita annually until 2030 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making PPPs ideal for reaching this target.
Leduc pointed out that private investment must play an increasingly significant role, and the Dominican Republic is prepared for this due to its robust regulatory framework, institutional capacity, and political and social will. “These elements are the strongest predictors of success in implementing PPPs.”
Andrés Lugo Risk, executive director of DGAPP, highlighted during the event that sustainable infrastructure is the foundation of social well-being and economic growth, and that public-private partnerships form the most strategically valuable model to foster this.
The symposium brought together experts who agreed that the Dominican Republic already shows tangible progress, such as the project to convert the Arroyo Barril Port (Samaná) into a modern cruise terminal—the country’s first awarded PPP.
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