SANTO DOMINGO. - President Luis Abinader emphasized this Tuesday that transportation is not just a network of roads, trains, ports or airports, but the backbone of economic and social development , connecting the producer with the market, the worker with opportunity and the citizen with the services of the State.
At the opening of the 2025 Regional Dialogue on Public Policies for Transport , where the country is participating for the first time as a full member of the International Transport Forum (ITF) , the president highlighted the strategic role of transport in the economic and social transformation of the region, emphasizing that modern, safe and sustainable mobility is key to boosting competitiveness and strengthening the resilience of Latin American countries.
He explained that the meeting's program will cover key topics such as sustainable financing of public systems, the transition to electric and clean mobility, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles , resilience to climate risks , road safety , and the role of transport in global supply chains.
He asserted that these debates transcend borders and that the Dominican Republic welcomes them with the conviction that the sustainable development of the countries in the region depends on their ability to move better, with less of a footprint and more intelligence.
President Abinader expressed his gratitude to the IDB and the ITF for their trust and partnership with the Dominican Republic , highlighting that the IDB has been a key partner in the country's territorial transformation process, supporting projects that improve mobility, generate employment, and strengthen regional integration. He also praised the ITF, with its network of 69 member countries , as the ideal forum for learning, innovating, and building consensus on the future of transportation.
The president called for this dialogue to become a regional action pact, emphasizing that “transportation is not a technical issue, but a political decision with human impact. The quality of air our children breathe, the equity of our cities, and the productivity of our economies will depend on how we design our mobility system,” he stated.
In closing, President Abinader quoted Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano : “Many small people, in small places, doing small things, can change the world.” He added, “Here in Santo Domingo, we can begin that change, building together a new mobility map—more humane, smarter, and more sustainable—for our entire region.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the International Transport Forum (ITF), Young Tae Kim , highlighted the leadership of Latin America and the Caribbean in transport , emphasizing the incorporation of the Dominican Republic as the first Caribbean country in 2024, and the need for dialogues to translate into concrete actions in digitalization and urban development for the 2026 World Summit.
The meeting, which was also attended by the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza , brings together ministers, experts and leaders from across the region, as well as delegations from Spain and France , to reflect, share experiences and design together the future of transport with a more efficient, safe, sustainable and inclusive vision.
