标签： Dominican Republic

Against a backdrop of surging global demand for critical minerals — materials essential to clean energy technologies, advanced electronics, and modern infrastructure — the Dominican Republic’s Mining and Petroleum Chamber (CAMIPE) is pushing for targeted regulatory reform to unlock the country’s mining potential and secure a foothold in fast-growing regional supply chains. The call for change was delivered during a high-stakes critical minerals panel hosted at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) headquarters in Washington, D.C., a key event held as part of the country’s Dominican Week initiative in the United States, which aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two nations.

Martín Valerio Jiminián, CAMIPE’s executive director, told attendees that while the Dominican Republic already has a foundational legal framework in place to support mining development, the current system of regulatory procedures lacks the coordination, efficiency, and transparency required to attract large-scale, long-term investment. Complex, fragmented approval processes and unclear rules have created unnecessary barriers that discourage the major capital commitments the sector needs to grow, he explained.

To address these gaps, Valerio Jiminián outlined a series of concrete proposals designed to streamline administrative workflows without compromising environmental or community protections. Among his top recommendations are the creation of a unified Single Mining Window to centralize application and approval processes, a full transition to digital documentation and tracking systems to cut down on processing delays, enhanced coordination between overlapping government institutions, standardized protocols for tracking permit applications, clearly defined mandatory deadlines for regulatory reviews, and transparent, consistent rules that apply across every stage of the mining lifecycle, from initial exploration to final site closure.

A core point of emphasis from Valerio Jiminián was that administrative efficiency does not require rolling back environmental safeguards. He pushed back against the common narrative that streamlined regulation equals weaker environmental oversight, arguing that rigorous environmental impact assessments and proactive ecological protection can and must coexist with efficient, predictable administrative processes. Responsible development, he noted, depends on both clear rules for investors and strong protections for natural ecosystems.

When it comes to the country’s critical minerals strategy, Valerio Jiminián argued that Dominican policymakers must look beyond simply mapping and identifying untapped mineral deposits. For the country to capture long-term value from its natural resources, he said, national strategy must prioritize building up local technical expertise, strengthening domestic regulatory and research institutions, investing in modern mining technology, and expanding domestic capacity to attract and manage large investment projects. This approach must also center tangible benefits for local communities that host mining operations, while upholding strict environmental protection standards.

Ultimately, Valerio Jiminián said, the long-term strategic goal should be to convert the Dominican Republic’s untapped mineral resources into sustained national economic and industrial capacity. With smart regulatory reform and targeted investment in domestic capabilities, the country can position itself as a reliable, responsible supplier within regional critical minerals supply chains, driving economic growth while meeting rising global demand for these strategically essential materials.

In a pivotal gathering held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Convention Center, industry leaders, government policymakers, and cross-sector stakeholders have united to address the future of the Dominican Republic’s maritime and trade ecosystem, with a clear call for a unified, long-term national maritime vision to underpin projected economic and foreign trade expansion. The first ever Maritime Vision 2026 forum, convened by the Dominican Republic Shipping Association (ANRD), brought together representatives from maritime transport, port operations, logistics, manufacturing, and public administration to lay out a roadmap aligned with the Dominican government’s ambitious growth target: doubling the size of the national economy by 2036. ANRD chairman Jaak Rannik opened the forum by outlining the Dominican Republic’s existing competitive strengths that position it as a growing regional trade hub. These advantages, he noted, range from the country’s strategically advantageous geographic location, already upgraded modern port and transport infrastructure, and well-established international connectivity, to consistent inflows of private sector investment and a rapidly expanding national logistics platform. Over the past decade, Rannik explained, the country has built a vibrant, dynamic port and logistics network that has supported steady trade and economic growth. However, he emphasized that incremental, sector-by-sector adjustments are no longer sufficient to keep pace with the coming wave of expansion. To meet the rising demand that will accompany a doubling of the national economy, the country must shift from fragmented, ad-hoc responses to a centralized, coordinated national strategy that proactively addresses future needs across critical areas: infrastructure development, digital and physical connectivity, logistics efficiency, skilled human capital development, and long-term environmental sustainability. Forum participants dedicated sessions to analyzing how the 2036 economic doubling target will reshape key sectors tied to maritime activity, including cross-border imports and exports, domestic manufacturing, free-trade zone operations, the country’s core tourism industry, energy supply chains, and integrated logistics networks. ANRD’s proposal frames a formal National Maritime Strategy as a unifying framework to align public sector policy and private sector investment, breaking down silos that currently slow coordinated development. The association argues that this unified approach will not only strengthen the country’s overall trade competitiveness but also drive targeted improvements in infrastructure expansion, workforce development, and climate-resilient environmental sustainability for the maritime sector. Stakeholders in attendance broadly supported the initiative, noting that proactive long-term planning is critical to ensuring the Dominican Republic can capitalize on its natural advantages and capture emerging opportunities in global trade in the coming decades.

One of the Dominican Republic’s most beloved high-profile tourist destinations is set to undergo a major transformation, as the long-awaited full-scale renovation of the Puerto Plata Cable Car is scheduled to kick off this Saturday, October 3. Backed by a $20 million investment, this comprehensive modernization initiative is designed to address longstanding capacity constraints, cut travel times, and bring the iconic attraction’s operational and safety infrastructure up to 21st-century standards.

The project was officially unveiled jointly by José Ignacio Paliza, Minister of the Presidency, and David Collado, the nation’s Minister of Tourism. Funding for the rehabilitation effort will be split between the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), marking a coordinated public sector investment to boost the country’s tourism sector.

The upgrade delivers sweeping changes across every core part of the cable car system. Most notably, the cable car cabins will undergo a full modernization that will more than double their passenger capacity, jumping from 18 passengers per cabin to 50. Project planners anticipate this expanded capacity will cut down on lengthy visitor wait times during peak travel periods and let the popular attraction accommodate far more tourists annually, supporting broader tourism growth in the Puerto Plata region.
Travel speed will also see a significant improvement. With the installation of an all-new high-performance electromechanical system capable of operating at 10 meters per second, the one-way trip to the summit of the mountain will shrink from the current eight minutes to just five minutes, creating a more efficient and convenient experience for guests.
The renovation work will be rolled out in three distinct phases to minimize disruption and ensure quality control: the first phase will cover pre-construction engineering studies and detailed design work, the second will focus on on-site renovation construction, and the third and final phase will involve the assembly and testing of the new cable car system. To support the upgraded infrastructure, the project also includes the build-out of a dedicated new electrical supply line that will ensure reliable power for the expanded system.
The full-scale modernization comes after the Puerto Plata Cable Car has been closed to the public since June 2024, when it was shut down for failing to meet required mandatory safety certification standards for public operations. Following the closure, Dominican authorities moved quickly to develop a plan to rehabilitate and upgrade the attraction, rather than simply repairing the existing system. The competitive bidding process for the construction contract was finalized earlier this year, clearing the final regulatory and administrative hurdle for work to get underway as scheduled.
When completed, the modernization project is expected to revive one of Puerto Plata’s flagship tourist draws, delivering a safer, more efficient, and higher-capacity experience that meets the needs of growing visitor numbers to the region, while supporting local tourism-dependent businesses and communities.

One of Haiti’s most influential and long-standing business leaders, Gilbert Bigio — founder and former president of the Caribbean conglomerate GB Group and majority stakeholder in Texaco operations across the Dominican Republic — has passed away at the age of 91. According to sources close to Bigio’s family, his death occurred on Tuesday, September 29, in Florida.

A private funeral service is scheduled to take place this Thursday, October 1, in Hollywood, Florida, to honor Bigio’s life and legacy.

Bigio’s career spanned more than six decades, cementing his status as a cornerstone of Haiti’s business community. He launched what would become GB Group in 1972, growing the small operation into a diversified multinational conglomerate with holdings spanning critical sectors across the Caribbean: energy, fuel distribution, construction, agriculture, food production, steel manufacturing, and logistics, among others.

Bigio got his start in business back in 1957, when he first took on a partnership role at a small local department store. Over the subsequent decades, he methodically expanded his business footprint beyond Haiti’s borders, building a cross-regional empire that positioned him as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Caribbean.

One of the biggest milestones of Bigio’s career came in 2012, when GB Group completed a major acquisition of Chevron-Texaco’s fuel marketing and distribution networks across the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and St. Maarten. The deal added more than 200 branded Texaco service stations to the group’s portfolio, solidifying GB Group’s position as a leading player in the Caribbean fuel and energy sector.

With Bigio’s passing, Haiti has lost one of its most legendary business figures, whose decades of work created a lasting, significant impact on the energy and commercial landscape across the entire Caribbean region.

In a keynote address delivered at the inaugural Maritime Vision Forum 2026 in Santo Domingo, José Ignacio Paliza, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of the Presidency, outlined how the nation’s prime geographic positioning creates a unique strategic opening to grow its influence in global supply chains. However, Paliza emphasized that unlocking this potential will demand significant upgrades to the country’s connectivity networks, core infrastructure, and logistics systems.

Paliza told attendees that maritime shipping handles over 65 percent of the Dominican Republic’s total export volume, and noted that combined public and private investment in port infrastructure has surpassed $531 million over the last five years. This sustained investment has laid the groundwork for expansion across multiple key port sites, he added.

The minister highlighted the untapped potential of the country’s major ports, including Haina and Caucedo, and also called out emerging opportunities at other coastal hubs: Manzanillo, Barahona, San Pedro de Macorís, and Puerto Plata. Beyond physical port infrastructure, Paliza pointed to new cross-border connections in the digital and energy sectors, such as Google’s planned international digital exchange infrastructure and a proposed energy linkage project with neighboring Puerto Rico.

According to Paliza, Decree 353-26, which mandates the creation of a national National Maritime Strategy, will provide a clear framework to set priorities across key focus areas: port infrastructure expansion, navigation safety protocols, marine environmental protection, and alignment with the Dominican Republic’s international trade commitments. He added that the strategy will incorporate measurable performance goals, assign clear implementation responsibilities to designated government institutions, and build in transparent progress monitoring mechanisms.

Paliza tied the maritime strategy directly to the nation’s long-term development plan, Meta RD 2036, which has set a target of doubling the real size of the Dominican economy by 2036. Reaching that ambitious goal will require streamlined goods movement, reduced trade costs, and stronger, more reliable connections between domestic production centers and global international markets, he concluded.