Dominican Republic records historic business growth: 18,000 new companies in the first semester
The Dominican business sector is experiencing a moment of unprecedented expansion. During the opening of the seventh edition of HUB Cámara Santo Domingo 2026, the president of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce, Lucile Houllemont, highlighted the positive indicators that reflect the country’s economic strength. According to the data presented, 18,000 new companies have been established in the first six months of the year, a milestone that consolidates the confidence of local and foreign investors.
Houllemont attributed this boom to the transformations driven by the administration of President Luis Abinader, stressing that legal security and business facilitation policies have been decisive in attracting capital and projecting the Dominican Republic into international markets.
With this, President Abinader, we want there to be greater confidence in local and foreign capital so that it continues to bet on doing business in the Dominican Republic.
Lucile Houllemont, President of the Chamber of Santo Domingo
Logistics and exports on the rise
Dominican business success is also reflected in export figures. During the first seven months of the year, foreign sales reached US$9.267 billion, representing a 12% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. This dynamism is supported by modern logistics infrastructure, which includes certified ports, an interconnected road network, and efficient 24-hour dispatch programs.
In addition, the country leverages a network of five trade agreements that provide preferential access to more than 800 million consumers in nearly 50 countries, strengthening the competitiveness of domestic producers.
Trade as an engine for employment and technology
For his part, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, emphasized that the commercial sector currently generates more than one million jobs, which represents 20.2% of labor employment in the country. The official highlighted that the HUB Cámara Santo Domingo is a key platform for the private sector to continue betting on innovation and productive development.
- Technological boost: The goal is to transition towards an economy with higher added value and the development of technological products.
- Artificial Intelligence: Paula Bellizzia, from Amazon Web Services (AWS), highlighted that 26% of organizations in Latin America are already generating economic value through artificial intelligence.
- International reach: The event features the participation of more than 150 international buyers and 280 Dominican exporters, projecting more than 1,000 business rounds.
The seventh edition of HUB Cámara Santo Domingo is thus consolidated as the main stage for strengthening ties between the public and private sectors, reaffirming the country’s commitment to sustained economic growth and the modernization of its production processes.
