AGP Executive Report

Tourism & Credit Boost: The Association of Multiple Banks reports private-sector credit in the Dominican Republic rose 9.1% year-on-year by June 2026, with tourism, construction, transportation and private investment driving momentum. Public Investment Facilitation: Prime Minister Andrew Holness (Jamaica) urged public services to act as facilitators for approvals and development—speed without lowering standards. Housing Rights: A Santo Domingo lawyer says rent increases can’t be imposed unilaterally under Decree 4807; tenants can challenge abusive hikes with the Housing Rent Control and Evictions Office. Construction Permits Surge: MIVHED hit a record month with 201 construction permits in July 2026, up 85% year-on-year, citing modernization and more transparent permitting. Telecom Modernization: Indotel presented a proposed General Law to update telecommunications and digital infrastructure rules, including a single concession system and stronger consumer protections. Cigar Industry Protection: The DR created a Regulatory Council for the “Dominican Cigar” geographical indication to enforce standards from tobacco to packaging and promote the brand. Customs Crackdown: Customs destroyed 8.29 million cigarettes seized for attempted illicit entry, citing RD$53.29M in evaded taxes. Geopolitics: The DR expelled nine Cuban diplomats and families; Cuba called it submission to the U.S. Infrastructure Update: MOPC will close the Ozama River floating bridge for two hours Saturday for vessel passage. Safety & Security: Two separate robberies targeted construction payroll cash in Trinidad and Cu­tucu­pano Road areas, with large sums taken.

Diplomacy Shock: The Dominican Republic expelled nine Cuban diplomats and their families, giving them seven days to leave, while Cuba called it submission to U.S. policy and linked it to the “Shield of the Americas.” Legislative Agenda: Congress opens its Second Ordinary Legislature on Aug. 16, with pending bills still stuck in committees, including water, labor reform, cybersecurity, a new Civil Code, and energy efficiency. Telecom Modernization: Indotel presented a proposed General Law on Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity, aiming for a single concession system, faster infrastructure deployment, stronger competition, and cybersecurity rules. Public Works & Mobility: MOPC will close the Ozama River floating bridge for two hours this Saturday to let two vessels pass, urging drivers to use alternate bridges. Construction Permits Surge: MIVHED hit a record month with 201 construction permits in July, up 85% year-on-year, citing modernization of the permitting system. Security & Trade Controls: Customs destroyed 8.29 million cigarettes seized for evading about RD$53.3 million in taxes, as part of joint anti-smuggling operations. Local Business & Jobs: Tourism push continues as the RD Road Show adds Philadelphia and Charlotte; meanwhile, UFHEC begins construction of a new campus in San Juan with programs tied to regional needs. Industry & Investment: Unigold updated its Candelones gold project mineral resource estimate in the Dominican Republic, supporting feasibility work. Crime Watch: Two separate robberies targeted construction payrolls, with suspects armed and cash stolen.

Cuban Youth Baseball Crisis: A Cuban sports commentator says young players are stuck for months without competition after the National Baseball Commission suspended Sub-12, Sub-15 and Sub-18 tournaments, blaming the island’s energy crisis and fuel shortages that even stop teams from traveling. Wage Robberies: Two separate armed robberies targeted construction payrolls, with suspects stealing about US$185,000 in cash in San Cruz and Maraval. Diplomacy Tension: The Dominican Republic expelled nine Cuban diplomats and their families, while Cuba called it submission to U.S. pressure and linked the move to the “Shield of the Americas.” Congress Must Act: Lawmakers open the Second Ordinary Legislature on Aug. 16, but key bills on water, labor, cybersecurity, civil justice reforms, energy efficiency and climate change remain pending. Telecom Modernization: Indotel proposed a new General Law to update telecommunications and digital infrastructure, including spectrum, network sharing, consumer protections and cybersecurity. Construction Permits Surge: MIVHED hit a record 201 permits in July and 1,122 permits Jan–Jul 2026, up 85% year-on-year. Cigar Industry Standards: DR created a Regulatory Council for the “Dominican Cigar” geographical indication to enforce production and certification rules. Customs Crackdown: Customs destroyed 8.29 million cigarettes seized for attempted tax-evading smuggling worth RD$53.3M. Tourism Push: David Collado added Philadelphia and Charlotte to the “RD Road Show Around the World” to boost travel agent and airline ties. Local Infrastructure: MOPC will close the Ozama River floating bridge for two hours Saturday for vessel passage. Energy & Industry: Unigold updated its Candelones gold resource estimate for feasibility work, reinforcing mining investment signals.

Infrastructure & Mobility: MOPC will temporarily close the Ozama River floating bridge for two hours this Saturday (10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon) for vessel passage, urging drivers to use Matías Ramón Mella, Juan Pablo Duarte and Juan Bosch bridges. Education & Sports Facilities: INEFI inaugurated a new roofed court at “La Perito” (Instituto Politécnico Profesor Víctor Rafael Estrella Liz) in a RD$16.17M project benefiting 800+ students and surrounding communities. Higher Education & Skills: President Abinader broke ground on UFHEC’s new San Juan campus and ARCASA Plaza, a 19,000 m² development with a seven-story building and programs including software engineering, cybersecurity, AI, biotech and precision agriculture. Telecom Regulation: Indotel presented a proposed General Law on Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity to modernize the sector, including a single concession system, network sharing, spectrum management, consumer protections and a cybersecurity regime. Trade & Compliance: Customs destroyed 8.29M cigarettes tied to attempted evasion of RD$53.29M, while UNICARIBE and ProCompetencia signed an alliance to strengthen free competition. Industry & Investment: MIVHED reported a record 201 construction permits in July, and Dominican cigar stakeholders created a Regulatory Council for the “Dominican Cigar” geographical indication. Regional Security & Diplomacy: DR expelled nine Cuban diplomats; Cuba condemned the move amid wider U.S.-led regional security initiatives.

North Coast Real Estate: A new resort pipeline plus a capital gains tax cut (Law 30-26) and a record tourism season are starting to show up in what sellers can net and what deals get done, with Puerto Plata taking about 90% of cruise passengers. Housing & Permits: MIVHED hit a new monthly high with 201 construction permits in July 2026, lifting permits 85% year-on-year and surpassing all of 2025 in just seven months. Telecom Modernization: Indotel advanced a proposed General Law to modernize telecommunications and digital infrastructure, including a single concession system, an electronic window for infrastructure deployment, stronger competition, and cybersecurity rules. Customs Crackdown: Customs destroyed 8.29 million cigarettes tied to evaded RD$53.29M, citing coordinated enforcement with the Army, Navy, DGII and the Public Ministry. Industry & Energy: ETED is pushing large-scale battery storage to stabilize the grid and improve resilience (frequency regulation and black-start capability). Tourism Promotion: Minister David Collado brought the “RD Road Show” to Philadelphia and Charlotte to boost travel agent and airline engagement. Civic/Legal: National Congress finalizes details for the Aug. 16 start of the Second Ordinary Legislature, with labor and police reform among key pending priorities. Regional Politics: Cuba condemned the DR’s expulsion of Cuban diplomats, calling it submission to U.S. policy.

Beauty & Retail Trade: Cosmoprof North America wrapped its 23rd Las Vegas edition with 26,500+ attendees from 88 countries and 950+ exhibitors, highlighting trends like collagen, scalp care, and new matchmaking plus education to make it easier to do business. Music & Tourism Economy: Afro Nation co-founder Obi Asika says the brand wants to scale globally to 6–8 events a year, with the Dominican Republic among its festival footprint. Trade & Logistics Risk: A White House report on “The Great Transshipment Scam” flags the Dominican Republic among 40+ countries accused of enabling tariff evasion by routing Chinese goods through third markets—raising pressure on customs, documentation, and compliance. Energy Infrastructure: ETED is advancing large-scale battery storage (BESS) to improve stability and resilience of the SENI, including frequency regulation and black-start capability. Aviation & Ground Handling: Aerodom began operating the first phase of an automated baggage system at AILA, with CT screening, automation, and plans to double hourly baggage capacity. Ports & Cruise Growth: Port Cabo Rojo in Pedernales was named a finalist for the Seatrade Cruise Awards 2026 Port of the Year category. Real Estate Financing: ExpoHogar Banreservas 2026 closed with RD$11.247B in approved financing across housing and commercial projects, approving 2,050 applications (+60.7%). Agribusiness Opportunity: The first DominiCoco Coconut Summit pointed to fast-growing global demand and highlighted 5,141 coconut producers and 396,000+ tareas planted as a base for value-added expansion. Geopolitics: The DR ordered the expulsion of nine Cuban diplomatic officials, escalating tensions amid U.S.-linked regional security initiatives. Culture & Events: Dominican Republic Comic Con announced its third edition for Oct. 24–25, 2026 at Puerto San Souci with Natalia Tena as star guest.

Energy & Grid Resilience: ETED says large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems will boost stability of the SENI, adding frequency regulation and “black start” capability to help restore power after major blackouts and hurricane-related controlled disconnections. Cruise & Ports: Port Cabo Rojo (Pedernales) is a Seatrade Cruise Awards 2026 finalist for “Port of the Year,” highlighting rapid growth since receiving cruise ships in Jan. 2024. Real Estate Finance: ExpoHogar Banreservas 2026 closed with RD$11.247B in approved financing across housing and commercial properties, with 2,050 applications up 60.7% year-on-year. Aviation Modernization: Aerodom began operating the first phase of an automated baggage handling system at AILA, with CT screening, automated sorters, and plans to double hourly baggage capacity. Agri-Industry & Exports: DominiCoco 2026 (Aug. 13) spotlights expanding the coconut value chain; data cited includes 5,141 producers and 396,000+ tareas planted. Digital Sovereignty: At CAN’T0 in Punta Cana, officials warned the Caribbean must “hold the keys” to avoid digital dependency and close the telecom and 5G rollout gap. Mining & Environment: Barrick Pueblo Viejo opened a biodiversity exhibition tied to responsible mining, featuring local flora and fauna from its operation area. Health & Donation Culture: INCORT marked 28 years promoting organ, tissue, and cell donation to save lives.

Digital Infrastructure: Google says the Dominican Republic will be the centerpiece of “Americas Connect,” adding three new subsea cable systems (Alisios, Canoa, OlaLuz) plus a Firmina branch to boost redundant connectivity across the Caribbean, U.S. and Europe. Telecom & Policy: Indotel’s CANTO remarks put connectivity at the center of competitiveness, with plans for $500M+ in digital exchange infrastructure, 4G/5G expansion, and a push for smarter regulation. Aviation MRO: FL Technics has started operations at a new Punta Cana heavy-maintenance hub, with its first customer aircraft arriving and a five-bay hangar aimed at Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 demand. Tourism Jobs: Asonahores reports over 90% of hotel workers in the DR are Dominican, highlighting local procurement and tourism’s job impact. Agro-Industry: RAAS Irrigation Systems hosts DominiCoco 2026, the first Coconut Summit, focusing on irrigation, processing, marketing and investment across the coconut value chain. Responsible Mining: Barrick Pueblo Viejo opens a biodiversity exhibition tied to responsible management in its mining area. Banking & Growth: The Association of Commercial Banks says credit to the private sector grew 9.1% year-on-year by June, supporting construction, tourism and investment. Industrial Property: ONAPI chief Salvador Ramos highlights growth in trademark and distinctive sign registrations and university partnerships for training and innovation support.

Telecom & Digital Infrastructure: Google says the Dominican Republic will be the centerpiece of “Americas Connect,” with three new subsea cable systems (Alisios, Canoa, OlaLuz) plus a Firmina branch to boost redundant connectivity for cloud regions across the Caribbean, Latin America, the U.S. and Europe. Aviation & MRO: FL Technics has started operations at its Punta Cana heavy-maintenance hub, with the first A320ceo arriving; the five-bay, FAA- and IDAC-approved facility is a US$70M investment aimed at bringing certified narrowbody maintenance closer to regional airlines. Tourism & Jobs: Asonahores reports over 90% of hotel workers in the DR are Dominican, with tourism generating 800,000 jobs and about RD$220B in local purchases in 2025. Construction Permits Modernization: MIVHED unveiled progress on the Permitting Modernization Plan and a new state platform to improve traceability, transparency, and the digital permitting experience. Agriculture Oversight: A Controller audit found major documentation gaps at the Ministry of Agriculture, with only RD$4.34B accounted for of RD$7.51B in payments reviewed. Energy & Renewables: MPC Caribbean Clean Energy says Q2 generation hit 48 GWh, while Monte Plata faced curtailment; shareholders also approved selling El Salvador’s San Isidro solar park for US$3.27M. Seismic Safety: An engineer warns it’s inaccurate to claim the DR’s entire building stock is earthquake-ready, stressing that compliance at the time of construction matters. Agro-Industry Event: The DR will host DominiCoco 2026 (Aug. 13) to connect coconut producers, investors and industry on production, irrigation, processing and market opportunities. Sports Incentives: President Abinader announced expanded PARNI incentives and higher funding for Santo Domingo 2026 medalists starting in 2027 after the delegation’s record 150-medal haul.

Aviation & MRO: FL Technics has started heavy maintenance operations at its new Punta Cana MRO hub, with the first Airbus A320ceo arriving for JetBlue as launch customer; the US$70M, five-bay hangar (FAA and IDAC approved) targets Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 heavy checks and adds nearshore capacity for airlines across the Americas. Energy & Renewables: MPC Caribbean Clean Energy’s shareholders approved a US$3.27M sale of its El Salvador San Isidro solar park as part of a portfolio exit, while Q2 results showed 48 GWh generated regionwide; Dominican Republic’s Monte Plata was hit by grid curtailment (12.4% below budget). Construction & Permitting: The Ministry of Housing (MIVHED) rolled out progress on the Permitting Modernization Plan, including a new state platform aimed at more traceable, transparent, and digitized construction permit management. Telecom Infrastructure: Google announced three new Americas subsea cable systems that position the Dominican Republic as a key junction (Alisios, Canoa, OlaLuz) plus a DR branch for Firmina. Mining Policy: Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos says rare earth exploration in Pedernales is in advanced stages, with resource declarations planned for November and reserves expected by early 2027. Industry Exports: The Dominican cement sector is leading regional exports, with the country accounting for 25.4% of Latin America and Caribbean cement, lime and gypsum exports in 2025. Seismic Watch: A new review says recent regional quakes don’t raise Hispaniola’s physical threat level, but stresses ongoing baseline risk and building vulnerability in Greater Santo Domingo. Tourism Demand: Dominican tourism hit a record 7.7M visitors through July, supporting continued growth across air and cruise arrivals.

AI & Finance Gap: A new push for AI, nearshoring, data centers and advanced manufacturing is gaining momentum in the Dominican Republic, but analysts warn the bigger question is who will finance the companies expected to compete in these sectors. Construction Permits Modernization: The Housing Ministry (MIVHED) says its Permitting Modernization Plan is moving forward, including a new state-owned platform aimed at faster, more transparent, traceable construction approvals. Education Contractor Payments: MINERD is waiting on the comptroller’s response to move pending contractor payments tied to bank interest claims, after protests over withheld funds. Digital Infrastructure: Google announced three new Americas subsea cable systems that position the DR as a key junction, while Curaçao’s telecom minister attended CAN TO in Punta Cana to discuss regional connectivity, AI and cybersecurity. Energy Buildout: President Abinader visited the San Felipe Andrés I power plant in Boca Chica, a 467 MW project aimed at strengthening generation capacity. Tourism Momentum: The DR logged a record 7.7M visitors through July, and Chef Tita is set to make history as the first Dominican chef at Chef’s Table Festival. Cement Exports: The cement industry is leading regional exports, with the DR cited as the top exporter of cement, lime and gypsum in Latin America and the Caribbean. Livestock & Food Supply: La Altagracia leads meat and milk production with 215,000+ cattle, while Abinader also opened a public food supply systems meeting focused on Zero Hunger goals.

Tourism Boom: The Dominican Republic logged a record 7,700,118 visitors in the first seven months of 2026 (up 7% vs. 2025), with 5,885,259 air tourists and 1,814,859 cruise passengers—July alone hit 1,083,448 arrivals. Energy & Power Infrastructure: President Luis Abinader visited the San Felipe Andrés I plant in Boca Chica, a 467 MW project aimed at meeting rising demand and boosting generation capacity. Aviation & Maintenance Capacity: Sky High Dominicana is pushing ahead with construction of what it says will be the largest hangar at AILA, plus an aeronautical training center to expand technical capacity across the region. Intellectual Property Push: ONDA highlighted rising registrations of artistic, scientific and literary works in Moca, linking progress to stronger IP protection and the country’s exclusion from the U.S. Special 301 list. Agribusiness & Livestock: La Altagracia leads meat and milk production with 215,000+ cattle, while producers also face pressure from animal health challenges and market shifts. Tech for Aviation: Dominican air-traffic controller Olga Isabel Pérez Encarnación was named a Top Five finalist for Most Disruptive tech in Latin America for SARA, an AI system for real-time aviation information. Copyright & Culture: Chef Tita is set to make history as the first Dominican chef at the Chef’s Table Festival, signaling a higher-value tourism push through gastronomy.

Copyright & Creative Economy: In Moca, ONDA reported rising registrations of artistic, scientific and literary works, crediting Abinader-era inter-institutional IP enforcement and noting the DR’s exclusion from the U.S. Special 301 list. Seismic Preparedness Debate: After recent regional earthquakes, citizens in Santo Domingo questioned building quality and supervision, saying the country may not be ready for a major quake. Aviation & Infrastructure: Sky High Dominicana is building what it says will be the largest hangar at AILA, plus an aeronautical training center, to expand maintenance capacity and Caribbean/Latin routes. Tech for Aviation: Dominican air traffic controller Olga Isabel Pérez Encarnación was named a Top Five finalist for SARA, an AI system for real-time aviation information. Livestock & Food Production: La Altagracia led meat and milk output with 215,000+ cattle, as authorities backed producers with veterinary support and a new packing plant. Tourism Demand: The DR hit a record pace with 7.7M visitors in Jan–July 2026, including 5.9M by air and 1.8M cruise passengers. Energy Efficiency Pilot: “Cold Districts” launched with $3.3M to promote centralized sustainable cooling across Latin America and the Caribbean. Remittances: Central Bank data showed $7.316B in remittances in the first seven months (+6.4%). Currency Pressure: Economists warned the peso’s 8.4% appreciation could hurt export competitiveness and remittance-linked income. Organized Crime Risk: A regional report says criminal groups are diversifying into legal sectors like mining and fuel, making them more resilient. Aviation/Trade Finance Watch: Ticketplus closed its IPO at $8/share, raising $15M gross, with shares starting NYSE American trading under “TP.” Seatrade Cruise Awards: Finalists were announced for Seatrade Cruise Awards 2026, highlighting sustainability and shorex innovations relevant to regional cruise operators.

Tourism Boom: The Dominican Republic logged a record 7.7 million visitors in the first seven months of 2026 (7% up vs. 2025), with 5.89 million arriving by air and 1.81 million via cruise ports, as the Ministry of Tourism keeps reporting monthly highs. Sustainable Cooling Push: The EU and UNDP-backed “Cold Districts” project launches with US$3.3M to cut energy use and refrigerant pollution through centralized cold-water systems and closed pipe networks. Border & Trade Infrastructure: The government broke ground on “Strong Border” works in the northern border, including a national market at Tilorí, upgrades to the Guayajayuco ford, and new access controls to improve security and organized trade. Agriculture Climate Resilience: The Agriculture Ministry and Indomet signed a deal to strengthen climate risk management, expand agroclimatic roundtables, and deliver weather-linked guidance to farmers. Energy & Cost Pressures: CUED chief Celso Marranzini said extreme heat is driving demand and outages, while the government also raised gasoline and diesel prices for Aug. 8–14. Property Regularization: Vice President Raquel Peña delivered 450 property titles in Guayacanal, Azua, covering 1,800 people and helping regularize millions of square meters. Logistics/Ports Angle: DP World argues integration is becoming the new infrastructure, pushing coordinated supply-chain ecosystems beyond standalone port capacity. Regional Industry Signal: The Santiago Tourist Destination Cluster backed the Amber Tourist Highway to link Santiago and Puerto Plata and boost multi-destination tourism.

Port & Logistics Integration: DP World argues that the next edge in trade won’t come from bigger ports alone, but from integrated logistics ecosystems linking harbors, inland transport, customs, and digital platforms. Remittances & FX: The Central Bank reports remittances of US$7.316B in the first seven months of 2026 (+6.4%); the peso is up 8.4% vs. the dollar this year, a move economists warn could squeeze export competitiveness. Energy & Industry Costs: CUED chief Celso Marranzini says extreme heat is driving record demand and that outages are tied to maintenance and upgrades, including new or improved substations by year-end. Aviation & Jobs: Punta Cana’s new MRO center begins operations with JetBlue’s first aircraft, aiming to make the DR a regional maintenance hub. Agriculture Resilience: The Agriculture Ministry and Indomet sign a deal to strengthen climate risk management via agroclimatic roundtables and weather bulletins. Food Supply Pressure: Swine fever and imports are emptying Monte Adentro corrals in Santiago, hitting small producers. Border Development: Government breaks ground on northern-border works under “Frontera Fuerte,” including a national market and upgrades to access controls. Housing & Land Formalization: VP Raquel Peña delivers 450 property titles in Guayacanal, Azua, advancing legal security for thousands. Education Infrastructure: Teachers’ association warns of a classroom deficit of up to 8,000 despite MINERD’s delivery of 926 classrooms. Fuel Prices: Gasoline and diesel rise for Aug. 8–14, 2026.

Border Infrastructure & Trade: The Dominican Government broke ground on “Frontera Fuerte” works on the northern border, including the Tilorí National Market, the Guayajayuco ford reconstruction, and new access controls to boost security and organized commerce. Property Regularization: Vice President Raquel Peña delivered 450 property titles in Guayacanal, Azua, covering 12.9 million m² and helping about 1,800 families secure legal ownership. Energy & Grid Reliability: CUED president Celso Marranzini said extreme summer heat is driving demand and that outages are tied to maintenance, with plans to add or upgrade substations by year-end. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: The Agriculture Ministry and Indomet signed a pact to strengthen climate risk management, expand agroclimatic roundtables, and deliver weather info to reduce crop losses. Environment Enforcement: “Environmental Commitment 2.0” recovered 775 acres of protected land, dismantled illegal structures, and detained 384 people, including 381 Haitians. Inflation Watch: The Central Bank reported July CPI rose 0.19% and cut year-on-year inflation to 5.47%. Aviation & Jobs: Punta Cana’s new MRO Center began operations with JetBlue’s first aircraft, aiming to make the DR a regional maintenance hub. Public Health: A cardiologist warned sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in the country, driven by risk factors like smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and heavy alcohol use. Sports & Tourism: The Santiago Tourist Destination Cluster backed the Amber Tourist Highway to link Santiago and Puerto Plata and support multi-destination tourism.