ChatGPT’s advice leads US company to build factory in Tamboril

Santo Domingo.- World Emblem, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of embroidered patches and custom emblems, broke ground yesterday on a new factory in the Tamboril Free Trade Zone in Santiago. The company’s CEO, Randy Carr, says the decision to invest in the Dominican Republic began with a simple recommendation from an unlikely source: ChatGPT.

Speaking to Diario Libre, Carr explained that the company was looking to relocate to a country with favorable tariffs and close proximity to the United States. This came after the U.S. began to increase trade barriers with China, where World Emblem currently produces up to 30% of its products and faces tariffs of about 30%.

“When the U.S. government started changing its trade policies in January, the first thing we did was get on the chat and ask what we needed for our type of environment and our type of business. The Dominican Republic and two other countries came up,” he said.

A stable workforce and supportive community

The story of Carr’s decision to move part of his production to the Caribbean island was first reported by CNN in June and quickly went viral. Carr stated that his company’s ideal location needed a “stable workforce, good infrastructure, free trade with the United States, clean ports without port issues, and a transparent government interested in working with the United States.”

He noted that after visiting the country and meeting its people, he quickly realized it was a great opportunity. “It really came down to the people. Everyone here has been incredibly hospitable, very welcoming,” Carr said when asked about what motivated him to decide so quickly. He also highlighted the help he received from Claudia Pellerano, the president of the Dominican Association of Free Zones (ADOZONA), in navigating the market.

Carr explained that even though the move was more expensive, the free trade zone model was attractive due to the benefits it offers employees, such as transportation, on-site medical services, and high levels of security. The new 9,300-square-meter plant is expected to begin operations by the end of this year, transferring between 30% and 35% of the company’s manufacturing capacity to the country. The project will also generate approximately 500 direct jobs, providing a significant positive impact on the northern region’s economy and contributing to the growth of the free trade zone sector.