Luis Abinader Receives Americas Society’s Gold Insigne

Dominican President Luis Abinader received the Gold Insigne from Americas Society on Wednesday in New York, with the organization recognizing his leadership in the Dominican Republic and the wider Western Hemisphere. Americas Society describes the distinction as its highest honor and awards it to democratically elected heads of state for contributions to their countries and the region.

The award was presented at the Americas Society headquarters by Susan Segal, president and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, and Andrés Gluski, chairman of the organization’s board. The ceremony brought together business executives and public-sector leaders. Abinader attended with First Lady Raquel Arbaje and Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, among other members of the Dominican delegation.

Americas Society said the recognition reflects Abinader’s role in the Dominican Republic’s economic recovery, his stated commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and his participation in regional cooperation, particularly on security and economic integration. Gluski also pointed to the country’s 2024 constitutional reform and its cooperation on regional security and more resilient supply chains.

Abinader Highlights Economic Growth and Investment

In his remarks after receiving the distinction, Abinader described his presidency as the fulfillment of the mandate given to him by Dominican voters and pointed to the challenges faced by the country during his administration, including the COVID-19 pandemic, higher commodity prices, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the situation in Haiti and changes in international tariffs.

The president said the Dominican economy is consolidating growth of 4.5% this year. He also highlighted figures related to poverty, food security and foreign investment, saying monetary poverty had declined from 26% in 2019 to an average of 14.5% during the first half of the year.

Abinader said foreign direct investment is expected to exceed $5.2 billion this year. He also projected nearly 12.4 million visitors to the Dominican Republic, while pointing to the continued expansion of free zones and exports.

He cited approximately $16 billion in exports, including medical devices and electronic equipment, as well as economic activity connected to Major League Baseball academies and cigar manufacturing. The president also said his administration is pursuing strategies involving artificial intelligence and semiconductor assembly as part of an effort to develop new business sectors.

Democratic Reform Also Featured in the Recognition

Institutional reform was another central theme of the ceremony. Abinader pointed to the 2024 constitutional reform, saying it was designed to make it more difficult for a president to seek a third term. Americas Society also identified the constitutional changes as part of the institutional developments considered in recognizing his administration.

The president described the constitutional change as one of the main elements of his democratic legacy and said he intended to continue supporting democracy after leaving office. He also referred to his public criticism of restrictions on political parties in Nicaragua, arguing that such developments should not be allowed in Latin America.

The Gold Insigne has previously been awarded to several Latin American and U.S. leaders, including Raúl Alfonsín, Ronald Reagan, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Ricardo Lagos, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Michelle Bachelet, Felipe Calderón, Juan Manuel Santos, Mauricio Macri, Iván Duque and Luis Lacalle Pou.

For the Dominican Republic, the New York ceremony placed the country’s economic performance, institutional reforms and regional role at the center of an event attended by representatives of the private and public sectors. Americas Society’s recognition specifically linked those areas to Abinader’s leadership, while the president used the occasion to outline his administration’s priorities for investment, economic diversification and democratic institutions.