Boosting business creation in 24 hours: New digital platform revolutionizes entrepreneurship in the DR
President Luis Abinader officially launched the 24-Hour Businesses (E24H) initiative, a strategic project led by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) designed to eliminate bureaucratic barriers and allow for the formal incorporation of businesses in record time.
This digital platform integrates key State institutions, managing to unify procedures that previously required weeks of processing and physical travel. With this tool, the Government seeks to promote formalization, reduce operating costs, and boost the Dominican entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Simplification and competitiveness as pillars
The Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Eduardo “Yayo” Sanz Lovatón, emphasized that the success of this measure is based on Law 30-26, which eliminated the tax on the incorporation of companies. This fiscal adjustment has been key to removing historical obstacles that hindered business growth in the country.
Today, the Dominican Republic is treated and respected throughout the world as a country that works, as a country with which one can do business.
Eduardo “Yayo” Sanz Lovatón, Minister of the MICM
For his part, Peter Prazmowski, executive director of the National Competitiveness Council, highlighted that these actions are aligned with the RD2036 country goal, which seeks to double the size of the national economy in the next decade by reducing state bureaucracy.
How does the 24-Hour Companies platform work?
The tool, available through the Empresas24H.gob.do portal, centralizes essential processes for any entrepreneur. Among the facilities offered by the system are:
- Institutional integration: Connects ONAPI (trade name), the Chamber of Commerce (Commercial Registry), and the DGII (RNC).
- Single form: Allows managing the entire process in one place, avoiding duplication of information.
- Payments and validations: Facilitates online payment and offers automatic validations to minimize errors.
- Digital assistance: Pre-validation of trade names via WhatsApp and automatic generation of bylaws.
The president of Fedocámaras, Lucile Houellemont, positively valued the unification of criteria for the Mercantile Registry, ensuring that this guarantees equal conditions for all citizens regardless of their geographical location within the national territory.
Current scope and limitations
While the platform represents a significant advancement, the authorities clarified that, in this initial stage, the system does not include cases that require contributions in kind, participation of foreign shareholders, or activities that demand special sectoral permits.
For those cases not yet covered by the new automated system, the Formalízate program and traditional service channels will remain operational, ensuring that all entrepreneurs have a way to formalize their projects.
