Legal Framework
In the Dominican Republic, investment from abroad is regulated by a special legal regime. The Foreign Investment Law 16-95 sets the principal of equal treatment between national and foreign investments, guaranteeing the same legal protection for foreigners, as well as full repatriation of capital and profits and free currency conversion.Prohibitions and restrictions to investment in certain areas, such as public service enterprise, mining banking and insurance, have been eliminated, allowing foreigners to access business opportunities in any sector of the national economy. Furthermore, investment has been broadly defined to apply to contributions ranging from traditional capital to technological trademarks.
Incentives
Foreign Direct Investment in the Dominican Republic has experienced a renaissance thanks to our natural advantages and concerted efforts to create a favorable business climate. FDI in the Dominican Republic primarily takes place in Tourism, Telecommunications, Energy, Mining, Financial, Free Zones sector, among others. In order to attract greater investments, the Dominican government is actively eliminating any existing barriers to trade and investment, and also improving the economic and legal stability of the country, therefore improving the investment climate.
The Dominican Republic, in addition to its regulatory incentives to attract investment, benefits from multiple commercial agreements promoting the country's exports, therefore benefiting from customs tariffs at low levels or no tariffs at all; which promote an increase in trade with the United States, Central American, Caribbean and European countries.
The Dominican Republic is noteworthy as one of the primary countries receiving Foreign Direct Investment, within Central America and the Caribbean, not only due to its beneficial geographic location, but also due to the various strategic policies created by the government to improve the investment climate in the country.
FEATURED SECTOR
Infrastructure Projects and Investment Opportunities
The construction sector represents an essential component for the development of the Dominican Republic, which has which has achieved levels of excellence worldwide, with construction solutions that transcend the industrial sector and involves different actors and impacts the life standard of the nation. Innovation has been present in engineering installations and architectural designs with the industry's highest standards, making this industry attractive for investment opportunities.
Investment Opportunities:
Puerto Plata
Location: The Dominican Republic
Stage: Financing (winner to be announced)
Total project value: US$150 million, over 2 years
Type: Public Concession (30 years)
The Dominican Republic has structured a concession for a tourism / passenger terminal and a new container terminal. The project entails an investment of US $150 million over the course of 2 years and is in final stages of the bidding process.
Autopistas del Coral
Value US$360 million
Type of Project: PPP
Stage: Basic design and budget approved; environmental license obtained; conducted traffic study
The key piece of a 223km corridor that will connect Santo Domingo with the strategic touristic areas of the East. The most important airports are on this corridor and they receive more than 77% of all incoming foreign tourists.
The Autopistas del Coral, with 70km long and 4 tracks links the international airports of La Romana and Punta Cana. These airports receive more than 50% of all DR Flights and cover the major tourist areas located in the East (Romana, Bayahibe, Dominicus, Punta Cana, Bávaro, Macao & Uvero Alto) which covers more than 60% of all the country´s touristic accommodations.
Samana Highway Extension
Location: The Dominican Republic
Total Project Value: US$250 million
Type: Public Concession
The project consists of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a 106 km toll road that will connect Santo Domingo with the country's northeastern peninsula. The 30-year concession-- the country's first-ever highway license-- was awarded to Autopistas del Nordeste in 1999 through an international bidding process. The project is expected to lower transportation costs by reducing distance and travel time from 220 km and four hours to 120 km and 1.5 hours respectively. Progress on the toll road has already led to investments in a free trade zone that is connected by the road to the international airport of Santo Domingo.
Azua Bio-diesel Refinery Project
Location: The Dominican Republic
Stage: Financing
Total Project Value: US$200 million
Type: Private Development
This project headed by Globasol is part of a national initiative to produce 32.7 million gallons of biodiesel by 2010 (68.1 million of liters per year or 18 million gallons per year).
Santo Domingo Metro - Line2
Location: Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic
Stage: Bidding to begin shortly
Total project value: US$600 million over 4 years
Type: Public Concession
The Metro Line 2 Project involves the concession of a US $600 million line that will run east-west under John F. Kennedy Avenue, from the farthest metropolitan stretch of the city to the eastern part of the city, Santo Domingo Este and outskirts Los Alcarrizos. Construction will begin during second semester of 2008
Roco Ki Tourism Project
Location: The Dominican Republic
Total Project Value: TBD
Roco Ki is a high value residential project located in Macao Beach - Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic. This project includes a real estate development of 56 luxury condominiums, as well as 25 villas in the beach, bungalows, a marina and a Hotel with an 18 hole golfer course designed by Nick Faldo. This private project will create more than 30,000 jobs and is embedded into the country's strategy for tourism development. It is expected that Roco Ki will absorb an important percentage of the high class tourism that visits the area of Punta Cana.
Costa Blanca Tourism Project
Location: The Dominican Republic
A spectacular development on the south coast of the Dominican Republic, bordering the Caribbean Sea, Costa Blanca is designed on 300 acres with over three thousand feet of beachfront. The design concept consists of multiple oceanfront and golf view towers in addition to the Founder's Club Villas on the peninsula of Costa Blanca, Punta Pescadora.
Costa Blanca features a beautiful beach club, marina, international brand tennis center, golf club house, and a Greg Norman signature golf course as the centerpiece. This combination will make this sanctuary a mandatory destination in the Caribbean. The golf course and the Club House will be managed by an international renowned firm."
Pueblo Viejo Gold Mine
Location: The Dominican Republic
Total Project Value: US$2.7 billion, the largest investment in the economic history of the country.
Mining conglomerate, Barrick Gold Corporation, is sponsoring the Pueblo Viejo Gold Mine, an inside-the-fence project that will self-generate energy for its mineral processing needs.
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Infrastructure Projects and Investment Opportunities
Contact Us: Dominican Republic - Export and Investment (CEI-RD) - Av. 27 de Febrero esq. Av. Luperón, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
Investment Information - (809) 530-5505 ext. 111 - Tel. (809) 530-5505 Fax (809) 530-5500
invest@cei-rd.gov.do