Economy and Investment


With the largest economy in Central America and the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is known for its positive attitude towards foreign investments. According to the World Bank, the Dominican Republic was ranked as the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) recipient in the Caribbean in 2012. In 2012, FDI flows into the Dominican Republic grew 59%, driven by increased investments in electricity, manufacturing in export processing zones and mining, tourism and real estate.

Geographically located near major markets, the Dominican Republic is at the center of the Americas. As such, it has signed trade agreements that provide privileged market access to and from the United States, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.

 

Why invest in Dominican Republic

  • Good business environment: According to the World Bank report ¨Doing Business 2016, the Dominican Republic ranked 93 on doing business in the territory.
  • Wide Economy.
  • Improved infrastructure
  • Political and macroeconomic stability
  • Equal Treatment for foreign investor and local investors.
  • Plenty Skilled labor.
  • Banking and insurance systems
  • Free entry and exit of capital
  • Strategic geographic location

     

  • Source: http://cei-rd.gob.do/en/investment/invest-in-the-dr/     

  • The (FDI) New Business Department is responsible for attraction of Direct Foreign Investment by the proactive promotion of the country as a leading investment destination, through job generation, transfer of technology, education and social responsibility. Services offered by the Department:
  1. Technical assistance for investors, including business consulting, legal advice, and accompaniment during the complete investment process, guaranteeing speed, efficiency, and optimization of available resources. Some of these include:

     

    • Personalized service upon arrival to the country.
    • Transport logistic services and assistance with the particular needs of investors.
    • Individual investor work sessions so we can identify your needs.
    • Coordination of meetings with the principal Ministries, depending on the needs of the investor, always accompanied by an executive from the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD).
    • Coordination of meetings with primary private sector groups, depending on the needs of the investor, always accompanied by an executive from the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD).
    • Introduction to the One Stop Investment Desk (VUI-RD).
  2. Preparing of presentations, proposals, and reports related to new business attraction, in synergy with the areas of Market Intelligence and the One Stop Investment Desk (VUI-RD).
  3. Coordination of promotional activities on a national and international level with the goal of stimulating foreign investment in the Dominican Republic.

  4. It’s important to note that all services are rendered free of charge and that any information supplied during the process will be handled with total confidentiality and discretion.

    Source: http://cei-rd.gob.do/en/investment/new-business-department/


Sectors for investment in Dominican Republic


Steps for Constitution Company
  • Register the business name in the Property Industrial National Office (ONAPI)
  • Register Legal Documents in the Chamber of Commerce and Production in correspondent office
  • Request the National Taxpayer Registration (RNC)
  • Companies that perform Industrial Processes must also obtain other records, such as: Industrial registration, Sanitary registration, Environmental permitting regulations.

Types of Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Private company limited by shares
  • Branch of a Foreign Company

Benefits for investors
  •  To encourage investment in the tourism sector, the Dominican government granted for foreign investors the right to import if needed to build a project, its development or expansion, with investor foreign capital with tax exemption for no longer than ten years from the initial date of operation of the investment project.
  • Import of merchandise without customs fees and value-added tax.
  •  Full-prepared services of industrial parks for industrial purposes.

For a general overview on investing in tourism in the Dominican Republic, see:  http://www.godominicanrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DR-guia-inversiones-ENG-LR.pdf

For updated economic reports on the Dominican Republic, see: http://www.bancentral.gov.do/english/index-e.asp

The Center for Export and Investments (CEI-RD) is the Dominican government organization that assists investors: http://www.cei-rd.gob.do