On Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Leah F. Campos welcomed International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni and cross-sector representatives from the public, academic, and private industries at her official residence in Santo Domingo. The gathering centered on forging new collaborative ties across three high-priority strategic areas: technology, innovation, and semiconductor development.
Attendees included graduates from two IVLP On Demand cohorts that traveled to the United States back in 2016, both of which completed specialized programming designed to bolster the Dominican Republic’s growing technology and innovation ecosystem. The two cohorts focused on distinct but complementary industry tracks during their U.S. exchanges: one delved into cutting-edge advances in resilient, next-generation technology development, while the second toured leading U.S. semiconductor research, design, and innovation hubs to study global industry best practices directly from American experts.
The informal reception created a space for participants to revisit their exchange experiences, expand their cross-border professional networks, and map out potential future collaborative partnerships that bridge the public sector, Dominican higher education institutions, and local private industry. Many attendees highlighted how their IVLP experience opened long-term professional doors that they continue to leverage years after their initial visit.
In a statement following the event, the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic noted that the gathering aligns with the institution’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the professional networks built through State Department exchange programs. The event also aimed to connect cross-sector leaders working across technology, scientific research, innovation, and inclusive economic development to drive mutual benefit for both nations.
U.S. diplomatic officials reiterated that the embassy will continue to back initiatives that deepen bilateral ties between the United States and the Dominican Republic, with a specific focus on high-impact strategic sectors including semiconductor technology, general innovation, and fast-growing emerging technologies.
As the U.S. Department of State’s flagship professional exchange initiative, IVLP has a long history spanning more than eight decades. Founded in 1940, the program is built on the core mission of connecting emerging and current international leaders with their U.S. professional counterparts, while offering hands-on opportunities to gain first-hand insight into American society, governance institutions, and sector-specific professional practices.