Dominican Republic Steps Up Semiconductor Industry Push

The Dominican semiconductor industry is emerging as a strategic priority as the government seeks to diversify the country’s manufacturing base and attract investment in higher-value technology sectors.

The push forms part of a broader effort to position the Dominican Republic within global technology supply chains. Government plans focus on semiconductor manufacturing and assembly, while recent agreements and infrastructure projects with major technology companies are expanding the country’s digital capabilities.

Semiconductors Become a Strategic Industrial Priority

President Luis Abinader declared the development of the semiconductor industry a national priority in 2024. The policy covers areas ranging from research and design to manufacturing, assembly, testing, packaging and logistics.

The government subsequently presented its National Strategy for Promoting the Semiconductor Industry, known as Enfis, as a roadmap for integrating the Dominican Republic into global semiconductor value chains. The strategy emphasizes investment, technology transfer, specialized talent and partnerships with international companies.

An assessment prepared by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development also examined the country’s regulatory environment, institutions, human capital and competitive advantages for advanced manufacturing.

Google Investment Strengthens Digital Infrastructure

The semiconductor push is unfolding alongside a major expansion of digital infrastructure. Google is investing more than $500 million in the Dominican Republic to develop an international digital exchange hub and related submarine cable infrastructure.

The project, declared a national priority under Decree 113-26, is designed to strengthen international connectivity and increase the country’s capacity to exchange data with North America and other parts of the Americas. The planned infrastructure will include capacity for four new international submarine cables and greater direct connectivity with the continental United States.

Google has described the Dominican facility as its eighth digital exchange hub worldwide and the first in Latin America. The infrastructure is also intended to provide lower-latency connectivity to Google Cloud regions supporting advanced artificial intelligence services.

NVIDIA Partnership Adds an AI Dimension

The country’s technology strategy also includes cooperation with NVIDIA, the global computing and artificial intelligence company. The Dominican government signed a memorandum of understanding with NVIDIA to support implementation of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, or ENIA.

The partnership is focused on strengthening technological capabilities, developing specialized talent and advancing the country’s ambitions to become a regional center for artificial intelligence. In June 2026, construction also began on the Dominican Republic’s Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence with NVIDIA’s support.

Although AI infrastructure and semiconductor manufacturing are distinct parts of the technology ecosystem, they are increasingly interconnected. Expanding computing infrastructure, technical education and digital connectivity can provide supporting capabilities for industries that depend on advanced chips and related technologies.

Talent and Nearshoring Central to the Strategy

The government has identified specialized human capital as one of the key requirements for competing in the semiconductor sector. Partnerships with Purdue University and expanded technical and academic programs at institutions including ITLA, ITSC and INFOTEP are intended to strengthen training in engineering, microelectronics and related fields.

The strategy also fits into the Dominican Republic’s broader nearshoring ambitions. By attracting production closer to major North American markets, the country is seeking to build on its established export manufacturing base while moving toward more technologically sophisticated activities.

The challenge will be converting the strategy, infrastructure investments and international partnerships into sustained private-sector investment and actual participation in semiconductor supply chains. For the Dominican Republic, success would represent a significant expansion beyond traditional manufacturing and into a sector central to artificial intelligence, electronics, advanced mobility and other emerging technologies.