DUBAI – During an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader convened a significant meeting with expatriate citizens residing in Dubai, reinforcing his administration’s dedication to maintaining robust connections with the diaspora. The gathering served as a platform for the president to deliver a comprehensive address on the nation’s current socio-economic trajectory.
Abinader presented compelling evidence of national advancements across multiple sectors, citing notable enhancements in public security that position the Dominican Republic among the safest nations in Latin America and the Caribbean region. The president further detailed substantial reductions in traffic-related fatalities and significant upgrades within the healthcare infrastructure.
The address highlighted economic diversification as a cornerstone of the country’s development strategy, with particular emphasis on tourism expansion and free trade zone development. Abinader outlined strategic initiatives including the transformative tourism project in Pedernales and the construction of a new port facility in Manzanillo, both designed to promote balanced regional development.
Addressing poverty reduction, the president established concrete targets projecting a decrease from 25% to 17.5% by 2025, affirming this reduction as a primary governmental priority. Abinader also underscored the nation’s democratic stability, press freedoms, and its emerging role as a regional bastion of peace amidst neighboring challenges, particularly referencing the ongoing crisis in Haiti.
Members of the Dominican community expressed strong national pride and demonstrated keen interest in contributing to homeland development, raising specific inquiries regarding educational opportunities, investment protocols, export mechanisms, and enhanced air connectivity between the two nations. In response, Abinader confirmed ongoing negotiations with Emirati authorities to establish direct flight routes, while also detailing advancements in educational reform, technical training programs, scholarship initiatives, and emerging projects in technology and artificial intelligence.