Abinader highlights ports as key to Dominican Republic’s economic growth
Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader highlighted the strategic importance of ports to the Dominican Republic’s economic development, emphasizing their role in strengthening imports and exports and positioning the country as a logistics hub for the Caribbean and Central America.
“Without proper ports, without efficient logistics, without government support and the public-private partnership we have implemented, there is no economic development,” Abinader said during the opening of the 48th Central American Isthmus Port Meeting (REPICA 2026).
The president pointed to ongoing and recently completed port projects across the country, including the construction of the Port of Pedernales, expansion of the Port of La Romana, the upcoming opening of Port Samaná and modernization work at the Port of Manzanillo.
Port modernization drives jobs and connectivity
Alejandro Campos, executive director of the Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM), highlighted the modernization of the country’s port infrastructure and its impact on tourism, trade and employment.
Campos noted that when the Dominican Republic hosted REPICA in 2018, the country had three cruise terminals and received about 1 million cruise visitors. Today, it has six cruise ports and receives approximately 3 million visitors, reflecting the growth of its maritime tourism sector.
Port modernization is also generating employment. According to Campos, the Port Modernization Master Plan projects the creation of more than 10,000 jobs. In Cabo Rojo, Pedernales, port development has already generated more than 300 direct jobs and nearly 1,000 indirect jobs, while the transformation of Arroyo Barril in Samaná is expected to create between 1,000 and 1,500 direct jobs.
Campos said the government’s strategy seeks to establish the Dominican Republic as a Caribbean cruise hub and regional logistics center, while strengthening connectivity and competitiveness and protecting the country’s coastal and environmental resources.
REPICA 2026 brings regional port leaders together
REPICA 2026 is being held from September 7 to 11, bringing together port authorities, transport officials, maritime companies and other industry stakeholders to discuss technology, sustainability, infrastructure, operational efficiency, innovation and port management.
The event is organized by the Central American Commission of Maritime Transport (COCATRAM) in partnership with APORDOM and includes representatives from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic.
