Dominican Republic And Korea Launch Trade And Investment Dialogue

The Dominican Republic is seeking to deepen its economic relationship with South Korea through a new platform designed to connect companies and public-sector representatives from both countries and turn commercial opportunities into investment projects and business alliances.

The “Dominican Republic–Korea Trade and Investment Dialogue” was inaugurated by the Dominican Embassy in South Korea in coordination with the National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE). The organizers intend for the initiative to become a permanent mechanism for identifying opportunities in trade and investment.

Free Zones Take Center Stage

The first edition focused on the Dominican Republic’s free-zone regime, a system that has supported the country’s export-oriented manufacturing sector for decades. CNZFE Deputy Executive Director Yarisol López presented Korean businesses with information on the regime’s incentives, operating conditions, infrastructure and opportunities for manufacturing and higher-value activities.

The Dominican Embassy said the discussions were structured around specific business interests and potential projects. Several participating companies expressed interest in traveling to the Dominican Republic to assess possible investments, prompting the embassy and CNZFE to begin organizing a multisector business mission to the country.

Focus On Semiconductors And Advanced Manufacturing

Dominican Ambassador to South Korea Angie Martínez highlighted sectors such as semiconductors and advanced manufacturing as areas where the Dominican Republic wants to expand its participation in global value chains. She pointed to the country’s experience with free zones and its established manufacturing base in medical devices, electrical components and electronics.

South Korea, meanwhile, brings significant technological and industrial capabilities that could complement the Dominican Republic’s manufacturing platform and geographic position in the Americas. Martínez said the objective is to connect those capabilities and develop concrete projects benefiting both economies.

The business meeting, held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., brought together representatives of industry associations and specialized organizations, along with executives from more than 20 Korean companies. Participating businesses represented sectors including semiconductors and their supply chains, electrical and electronic products, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, industrial packaging, technology and cybersecurity, energy, aerospace, beauty, agribusiness, trade, investment and venture capital.

Business Mission Planned For Dominican Republic

The planned visit by Korean companies would give potential investors an opportunity to examine production conditions and infrastructure directly in the Dominican Republic. The embassy and CNZFE are working on a multisector mission following the initial contacts established through the dialogue.

The initiative builds on earlier economic-promotion efforts by the Dominican diplomatic mission in Seoul. In March 2026, the embassy organized a commercial and investment mission involving 16 Korean agricultural-machinery companies after six months of outreach to businesses in the sector.

That earlier mission explored the possibility of establishing an industrial park for the assembly and distribution of agricultural machinery and other technological solutions, with potential markets in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. The new dialogue broadens the scope of that engagement to a wider range of Korean industries and investment opportunities.

The initiative also forms part of the Dominican government’s stated effort to pursue more active economic diplomacy. The embassy said the work reflects priorities promoted by Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó to identify opportunities that can generate investment and strengthen the country’s international economic ties.