ICC Entrepreneurship Center to foster international trade in the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- The Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce (CCPSD) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have officially inaugurated the ICC Entrepreneurship Center in the Dominican Republic, aiming to bolster the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the global stage. The event witnessed the presence of the Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña.

The ICC Entrepreneurship Center collaborates closely with chambers of commerce worldwide to expand their networks, offering global training, virtual mentoring, and coaching to inspire future entrepreneurs and digitize SMEs. This initiative marks the fifteenth center established internationally by the ICC.

Leading the presentation event were Anyarlene Bergés, the second vice president of the Board of Directors of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce; Antonio Ramos, the executive vice president of the entity, and John WH Denton AO, Secretary General of the ICC, all of whom underscored the significance of the initiative, spanning over 14 countries across four continents.

Anyarlene Bergés, the second vice president of the CCPSD, emphasized the pivotal role of SMEs in the Dominican Republic’s economy, particularly in vital sectors such as tourism and services. She articulated that through initiatives like the Entrepreneurship Center, tailored programs would be launched to support their international expansion, enabling them to diversify revenue streams and capitalize on new business prospects. Bergés stressed the objective of equipping them with the requisite tools to tackle the challenges of accessing other markets and enhancing productivity.

Antonio Ramos, the executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, remarked, “With this strategic alliance with the ICC, the Chamber of Commerce will not only establish a network of opportunities for professionalization and growth but will also bolster its capacity to provide comprehensive support to Dominican companies, facilitating their access to knowledge and connections for international trade.” He mentioned the One Clic program, an easily accessible structured repository equipped with tools to systematically guide SMEs towards successful internationalization.

John WH Denton AO expressed, “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our ICC Entrepreneurship Center network to now include the Dominican Republic. In collaboration with the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce, our objective is to propel greater global market participation among SMEs and pave the way for growth opportunities.”

The Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM), Víctor-Ito-Bisonó, stated, “By connecting our MSMEs with an international network of knowledge, experiences, and resources, the Entrepreneurship Center has the potential to transform the Dominican business landscape and foster its sustainable and equitable growth.”

The first Entrepreneurship Center was inaugurated in Istanbul with ICC Turkey and the Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges in 2020, followed by centers in Accra, Beirut, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Casablanca, Jakarta, Lagos, Nairobi, Seville, Ukraine, Tbilisi, and Moldova.