In a landmark diplomatic milestone marking the first trip of its kind in more than 20 years, Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó has launched an official working visit to Canada, with core priorities including strengthening bilateral political bonds, growing two-way trade and investment flows, and expanding cross-sector collaborative partnerships. The visit, which includes official stops in both Ottawa and Toronto, is timed to align with the 72nd anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations, which were first established in 1954.
Bisonó’s delegation includes a cohort of leading business executives and industry representatives spanning a diverse range of key sectors: free trade zones, manufacturing, mining, energy, banking, air transportation, infrastructure development, and tourism. This broad cross-sector inclusion underscores the Dominican government’s strategic focus on economic diplomacy and proactively attracting new foreign capital into the country.
As one of the Dominican Republic’s most significant economic partners, Canada has accumulated an estimated US$1.761 billion in foreign direct investment in the Caribbean nation between 2019 and 2025, according to Bisonó. This robust existing economic foundation sets a strong backdrop for the discussions planned during the visit.
In Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Bisonó has a packed schedule of high-level diplomatic meetings. He is set to hold talks with Marc-André Blanchard, Chief of Staff to Canada’s Prime Minister, and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, where the two sides will cover a full agenda of bilateral relations, trade expansion, investment promotion, and cross-border cooperation. Beyond executive branch meetings, Bisonó will also tour the Canadian Parliament and hold discussions with House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, alongside members of the Canada-Dominican Republic Interparliamentary Friendship Group. A key institutional milestone during the Ottawa leg of the trip will be the official opening of a new Dominican Export and Investment Center (INDEX) office, which will expand institutional support for trade and investment, as well as strengthen connections with the large Dominican community residing in Canada.
Moving on to Toronto, the largest city in Ontario, Bisonó will meet with Ontario Premier Doug Ford to discuss subnational cooperation and trade opportunities. He will also take the stage as a keynote speaker at the 2026 Toronto Global Forum, one of North America’s leading international economic conferences. Additional meetings on his Toronto agenda include discussions with senior executives from Scotiabank and other major Canadian organizations, as well as a scheduled sit-down with Ammar Al-Joundi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a major mining investor with operations in the Dominican Republic.