A landmark cross-sectoral engagement initiative between the Dominican Republic and France kicked off Monday in the heart of Paris, launching the 2026 edition of Dominican Week in France. The four-day event, running through October 22, is designed to deepen bilateral cooperation across diplomatic, economic and cultural spheres, bringing together key stakeholders from both nations to explore new avenues of partnership.
The opening ceremony was hosted at the Dominican Embassy in Paris, drawing a high-profile roster of attendees including Dominican Republic Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo, Dominican Ambassador to France David Puig, French Delegate Minister for Industry Sébastien Martin, and representatives spanning diplomatic circles, business communities, public institutions and cultural organizations. Jointly organized by the Dominican Embassy in Paris and the Franco-Dominican Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the initiative structures its agenda around five core pillars: political dialogue, trade expansion, investment attraction, cultural exchange and multilateral international cooperation.
Beyond high-level policy and business discussions, Dominican Week places significant emphasis on elevating Dominican cultural talent on the global stage. A flagship cultural offering is the art exhibition titled “Improbable Archipelago. The Dominican Worlds of José Castillo”, hosted at Paris’ renowned Maison de l’Amérique Latine. The event also marks the official launch of a new joint artist residency program between the Dominican Republic and Paris’ Cité internationale des arts, a long-term initiative that will open up international creative opportunities for Dominican visual and performing artists.
Culinary exchange is another core highlight of the program. Acclaimed Dominican chef Dayanny de la Cruz has curated a special tasting menu that blends traditional Dominican flavor profiles and ingredients with classic French culinary techniques, offering Parisian attendees a one-of-a-kind cross-cultural gastronomic experience.
The official agenda packs in a full slate of institutional and business engagements, including scheduled meetings with leadership from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Business France, and members of the French National Assembly and Senate. Key discussion topics span bilateral trade growth, cross-border investment, innovation ecosystem partnerships and shared progress on global energy transition. Complementing these policy talks, a cohort of Dominican export-focused companies is participating in SIAL Paris, one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade shows, to showcase Dominican goods to global buyers and unlock new commercial partnerships for the country’s export sector.
Readers can access additional local and regional coverage of Dominican affairs through DominicanScope, the original source of this report.