Luis Abinader Heads Dominican Delegation to UN General Assembly

Luis Abinader will travel to New York on Sunday as the Dominican Republic prepares for the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The president is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Wednesday, September 23, while also holding bilateral meetings and participating in events involving international cooperation, economic relations and emerging technologies.

The United Nations has scheduled the General Debate for September 22–26 and September 28 as part of the 81st session. The high-level week brings heads of state and government to UN Headquarters in New York for discussions on global issues and international cooperation.

A Week of Diplomatic and Economic Meetings

Abinader will be accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó and Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza. Their program includes bilateral meetings and high-level encounters intended to strengthen the Dominican Republic’s relationships with governments, international organizations and private-sector representatives.

The president is also scheduled to participate in activities connected to Meta 2036 and the Americas Shield Initiative, as well as the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit. One of the summit discussions will focus on building critical-mineral supply chains across the Americas, an issue linked to the region’s industrial and strategic interests.

Economic issues will form another part of the agenda. Abinader is expected to meet with Ibero-American business leaders, including representatives of the Consejo Empresarial Alianza por Iberoamérica and the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom, while discussions on trade and investment are also planned.

Artificial Intelligence and International Cooperation

Artificial intelligence will feature prominently in the president’s New York schedule through a high-level dialogue devoted to the technology. The meeting comes as governments and businesses increasingly address AI’s implications for competitiveness, economic development and international cooperation.

The agenda also includes activities related to the expansion of diplomatic relations and the signing of agreements. Foreign Minister Bisonó will conduct a separate schedule of meetings with representatives of other countries aimed at identifying new areas of cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties.

Biometric Passport and Dominican Community Events

During the visit, Abinader is expected to present the first Dominican biometric passport, adding a domestic modernization initiative to his international agenda in New York.

The president will also participate in activities involving Dominicans living in the United States, including a visit connected to the inauguration of The People’s Theatre Project: Centro Cultural Inmigrante and the “Index Somos Todos” event, which recognizes Dominicans living abroad.

His schedule also includes meetings with Dominican social groups and other members of the diaspora. New York is home to one of the largest Dominican communities outside the country, making engagement with residents and organizations there a recurring element of Dominican government activity during major presidential visits.

Americas Society to Honor Abinader

One of the most prominent events on Wednesday will be the presentation of the Gold Insigne of Americas Society to Abinader. The Dominican presidency said he will become the first Dominican president to receive the distinction.

The award will be presented during a dinner held in connection with the recognition and the United Nations High-Level Week. It will take place on the same day as Abinader’s scheduled address to the General Assembly.

The visit will continue through the end of the week, with additional meetings involving Dominican entrepreneurs, young people and members of the diaspora. On Friday, Abinader is scheduled to receive recognition from William Paterson University and participate in a tribute to José Francisco Peña Gómez, one of the most influential figures in modern Dominican political history.

For the Dominican government, the New York visit combines participation in the United Nations’ principal annual gathering of world leaders with bilateral diplomacy, business outreach, technology discussions and engagement with the Dominican community abroad. The agenda places international relations and economic cooperation alongside issues such as artificial intelligence and critical-mineral supply chains.