Dominican delegation explores trade opportunities at Port of Tarragona

Tarragona, Catalonia.- A Dominican Republic delegation, led by Consul General in Barcelona Antonio Gómez and Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship Scarlet Benzán, visited the Port of Tarragona on August 4 to explore business opportunities in the logistics sector and reinforce historical and cultural ties between the two regions.

During the visit, the delegation met with Santiago J. Castellà, president of the Tarragona Port Authority, to discuss strategic initiatives positioning the port as a key entry point for goods into Europe. Dominican officials highlighted their interest in exporting products like tropical fruits, coffee, cocoa, and rum, and expressed a desire to establish logistics partnerships to enhance access to the European market.

The delegation toured facilities such as Fruport at the Reus dock, a major hub for tropical fruit imports, featuring refrigerated storage and a 5,000 m² area for temperature-controlled containers.  In addition to trade discussions, the visit also spotlighted shared historical links, particularly through the legacy of 16th-century Tarragona sailor Miquel Ballester, who joined Columbus on his fourth voyage and later settled in the Dominican Republic as a sugar merchant. His story is preserved at the Port of Tarragona Museum and in publications supported by the Port Authority, which aims to further promote this shared history.