Experts explore Dominican Republic’s adaptability to shifts in global maritime trade

Santo Domingo.- The National Association of Shipowners (ANRD) organized the forum “Navigating Change: Geopolitical Turbulence and the Impact on Maritime Trade” to address the evolving challenges facing the global shipping industry and discuss strategies for the Dominican Republic’s adaptation. The event brought together industry leaders and experts to explore the impacts of shifting geopolitical dynamics on maritime trade.

Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime and a prominent figure in container shipping, delivered the keynote, emphasizing that global trade disruptions—from trade wars to supply chain realignments—are reshaping cargo flows and increasing the complexity of shipping networks. He noted that both short-term issues like container misplacements and long-term transformations in supply chains demand strategic adaptation.

ANRD President Jaak Rannik underscored the vital role of the maritime sector in global trade stability, highlighting how recent events like the pandemic and rising geopolitical tensions have exposed the fragility of international shipping systems. He pointed to the Dominican Republic’s strategic geographic position as a key advantage and reaffirmed ANRD’s commitment to fostering industry dialogue and resilience in this era of shifting trade policies and global economic pressures.