Spain has emerged as the top foreign investor in the Dominican Republic, reflecting a strengthening of economic ties and growing confidence in the Caribbean nation’s legal security. This development was underscored during the event titled “How to Invest in the Dominican Republic?” which aimed to spotlight opportunities for Spanish investment.
The meeting was hosted at the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Madrid (ICAM) as part of Semana Dominicana en España 2026, with support from the Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en República Dominicana. Participants emphasized that legal security, regulatory predictability, and alignment of objectives are essential for enhancing economic relations between Madrid and Santo Domingo.
Eugenio Ribón, dean of ICAM, opened the event by affirming the role of Madrid’s legal community in assisting Spanish businesses looking to invest in the Dominican Republic. “We want the ICAM to be their legal bridge and also their reference training center,” he stated, adding that the collaboration between chambers and legal professionals can lead to significant advancements.
Yelieny Bidó, president of ICAM’s Ibero-American Section I, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of a shared legal tradition in easing business transactions between the two markets. “From the legal profession, we want to serve as a bridge between law and the company,” she remarked, noting that such connections promote investor confidence and facilitate the development of economically beneficial relationships.
Angélica Noboa from Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti highlighted the Dominican Republic’s economic strengths, including macroeconomic stability, tax incentives, and equal treatment for foreign investors, factors that have positioned Spain at the forefront of foreign investment in the country.
The first panel discussion, moderated by David Heredia, featured representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo, ECIJA, and Squire Patton Boggs Peña Prieto Gamundi. They discussed investment protection guarantees, the role of commercial arbitration in dispute resolution, and the bilateral tax arrangements governing economic relations between the two nations.
Another panel focused on the energy sector, led by José Maldonado Stark, with insights from Pedro Valdez of the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in the Dominican Republic and Alejandro Tortosa of Acciona. Experts addressed the push for renewable energy initiatives and the necessity of a stable regulatory framework to attract new projects in generation and distribution.
Additionally, speakers noted the recent growth of the Dominican audiovisual industry, which has gained momentum since 2010 when a specific incentive framework was enacted. This framework has facilitated international filming projects and promoted coproductions, establishing the Dominican Republic as an appealing locale for film and television production.
The event concluded with remarks from Teresa Mínguez, a member of the ICAM Board of Government, who stressed the importance of adhering to legal regulations to foster investor confidence. “In a world of tariffs and rules that change daily, trust has become the scarcest asset,” she said, emphasizing the need for Europe and Ibero-America to collaborate as reliable partners.
