José Ignacio Paliza, Minister of the Presidency, assured that “the Dominican Republic is open to Japan as a reliable and strategic partner, with an attractive business climate and clear rules that offer legal security for investment.
In delivering the opening remarks at the forum “Strategic Horizons: Dominican Republic a land of opportunity for Japanese industries ,” the official expressed that the country's desire is for Japanese companies to see the Dominican Republic as an ideal place to grow and expand in the region.
The activity took place within the framework of the official mission that seeks to strengthen economic and commercial ties between both nations, organized collaboratively between the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Japan, Jetro and ProDominicana.
For her part, the executive director of the Dominican Republic's Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana) , Biviana Riveiro Disla , presented the business opportunities offered by the country in the Japanese capital, highlighting that the Dominican Republic represents a strategic destination for Japanese companies seeking to expand their operations in Latin America and the Caribbean .
He cited among its attributes its privileged location, macroeconomic stability, skilled workforce and competitive incentives in dynamic sectors such as free trade zones, tourism, renewable energy, real estate , as well as the country's commitment to diversification for the production of goods and services , including sectors such as automotive, aeronautical, technological, semiconductors, biomedical and mining, among others.
In his remarks, Riveiro highlighted the results of trade between the two countries: bilateral trade reached USD 2,718.8 million during the period 2019-2024. In 2024 alone, Dominican exports to Japan experienced a 90.5% increase compared to 2023, with notable growth in medical instruments and apparatus (135.5%), cocoa beans (121.7%), as well as products such as optical instruments (USD 40.6 million), cocoa (USD 9.2 million), and pharmaceuticals (USD 6.2 million).
As part of the agenda, ProDominicana took the opportunity to visit companies such as Yazaki, the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN), ShinMaywa, as well as participate in the most important business council in Japan, the Keindaren.
They also participated in a tourism promotion organized by the Dominican Republic, reinforcing the strategy of diversifying the Dominican offer for the Asian market.
With this mission, the Dominican Republic consolidates its position as a strategic partner in international trade, offering Japan a forward-thinking country, attractive for foreign investment and committed to global economic integration.
The event also featured the participation of Takuma Miyayi , Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, who delivered the opening remarks alongside Paliza. Other participants included the Minister of Culture, Roberto Ángel Salcedo ; the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugo Rivera ; the Dominican Ambassador to Japan, Edward Pérez Reyes ; the Manager of New Investment Businesses at ProDominicana, Zanony Severino ; and the Counselor at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Japan, Emmanuel Guzmán , among other members of the delegation from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency, Culture, and Tourism.
