They establish a framework for cooperation to connect educational institutions and businesses, and to develop specialized talent
The Dominican Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to strengthen cooperation between the country and that state for the development of capabilities related to the semiconductor industry.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and SMEs, Yayo Sanz Lovatón, and Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, during a ceremony held last Tuesday, August 25, in Phoenix.
“Dominican talent is our main advantage for entering this industry. This alliance connects the government, the private sector, and our educational institutions to develop the skills the market demands, generate specialized jobs, and attract new investments related to the semiconductor industry,” stated Yayo Sanz Lovatón.
Watson, meanwhile, praised the alliance and described it as strategic for Dominican logistics infrastructure, free trade zones, and human capital to function as a natural and competitive extension of high-tech manufacturing in the United States.
“Global investment in cutting-edge technology seeks profitability, but above all, it demands certainty. What the Dominican Republic offers the Arizona ecosystem is the strongest democratic stability in the region and a pro-business government that has transformed bureaucracy into logistical agility. Being the strategic link of the CHIPS Act in the Caribbean is not just future talk; it is the economic agenda we are already implementing,” the trade representative added.
Talent, innovation and new investment opportunities
According to the MICM press release, one of the main components of the agreement is the development and mobility of talent through collaboration between educational institutions, companies, and government entities in Arizona and the Dominican Republic. The alliance aims to facilitate specialized training, knowledge exchange, and the strengthening of technical skills required by this industry.
The MOU also establishes a framework to promote initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of supply chains, expanding trade and investment opportunities, and facilitating strategic partnerships between companies and institutions on both sides.
As part of their agenda in Arizona, the delegation visited MacroTechnology Works at Arizona State University (ASU), an advanced research facility focused on semiconductors, quantum technology, and advanced materials. This visit allowed them to explore opportunities for academic and technological collaboration that could contribute to strengthening the development of Dominican talent needed by industry.
It seeks to position itself as a reliable partner
The alliance is part of the National Strategy for the Promotion of the Semiconductor Industry (ENFIS), through which the Dominican Republic seeks to position itself as a reliable and competitive partner within the global value chain, developing activities that complement the advanced manufacturing carried out in the United States.
The areas identified include semiconductor assembly, testing and packaging; passive and discrete component manufacturing; and printed circuit board assembly, sectors in which the country can leverage its existing experience and capabilities in advanced manufacturing.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce assures that the Dominican Republic has a solid and growing free zone platform, made up of 858 companies that generate more than 200,000 direct jobs and register exports exceeding US$8.6 billion, in addition to consolidated capabilities in electronic and precision manufacturing.
Arizona, the press release states, has established itself as one of the leading semiconductor ecosystems in the United States, with operations and investments from companies such as TSMC, Intel, Onsemi, Microchip, and Amkor. Its development model brings together the government, the private sector, and academic institutions to foster innovation and develop the workforce required by this strategic industry.
With the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Dominican Republic and Arizona establish a framework for cooperation to connect educational institutions and companies, develop specialized talent, facilitate new trade and business relationships, and promote investment opportunities that strengthen the Dominican Republic's participation in the semiconductor value chain in the hemisphere.
The mission included the participation of representatives from the Dominican private and academic sectors, among them Dr. Marino Auffant, president of Auffant Global Advisory; Carlos León Bisonó, president of ASX Capital; Eliza Sánchez, executive director of ALTIO SAFI; Eduardo Galavis, general manager of the EniAgri real estate fund; Josefina Dieguez, director of Sustainability at Grupo INICIA; César Villanueva, CEO of Domex Courier; Samuel Bonilla, from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC) and José Alejandro Aybar, Chancellor of the University of the Caribbean (UNICARIBE).
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