Dominican Week in Brussels turns exports into deals

Dominican Week – On 1 June 2026, the Dominican Republic used Brussels to push deeper trade and investment ties with Europe, pairing a Trade and Investment Forum with cultural night. From cocoa traceability and banana certification costs to tobacco craftsmanship and tourism tar

On the evening of 1 June 2026, Brussels hosted a Dominican Republic that looked less like a tourist postcard and more like a pitch deck—where cocoa beans, cigar tradition, and hotel plans were all part of the same conversation.

At The Hotel Brussels. government representatives. business leaders. investors. and diplomats gathered for the Trade and Investment Forum & Cultural Night. organized as part of the first Dominican Week in Belgium and the Netherlands. The forum was designed to strengthen economic ties with Europe. with ambitions spanning agriculture and logistics to tourism. infrastructure. and renewable energy.

Opening the event. Ambassador Joan Cedano—Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Belgium. Luxembourg and the European Union—said the initiative was about “open[ing] new doors” for the country in Europe. He described the Dominican Republic as a stable and dynamic economy with a favourable investment climate. strong productive sectors. and growing logistics capabilities.

Cedano tied that pitch to a long-term goal: the government aims to double the country’s GDP by 2036 through development in agro-industry. logistics. tourism. technology. innovation. and free trade zones. It wasn’t just a promise about money—he framed it as a shift in how Europe might see the Dominican Republic.

Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Policy Francisco Caraballo. representing Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez. placed the event inside a wider Dominican-European relationship. He said partnerships are built not only through trade agreements and investment frameworks but also through people. communities. and shared histories. Caraballo pointed to longstanding connections with Belgium and the Netherlands. calling the Dominican Republic “a Caribbean nation open to the world. stable and reliable”.

Sustainability became a defining thread as the discussion moved from broad goals to the practical routes into European markets.

A programme of presentations from public institutions was paired with conversations on trade, exports, and investment opportunities. ProDominicana delivered a keynote presentation on the country’s attractiveness for investment, tourism, and business development. It was followed by a panel exploring the future of Dominican exports to the European Union. bringing together representatives from the banana. cocoa. and tobacco sectors.

Speakers argued that sustaining market access in Europe depends on sustainability, traceability, and quality standards.

For banana growers. Gil Blas Martínez. President of Adobanano. warned that small organic banana producers face increasing certification costs and regulatory burdens. He called for greater support to help producers remain competitive while preserving the social and environmental value of Dominican agriculture.

Cocoa producers, meanwhile, were focused on meeting Europe’s anti-deforestation rules and on how differentiation might follow compliance. María del Pilar Hernández of the DR Cocoa Foundation highlighted efforts to comply with the European Union’s anti-deforestation requirements and presented plans for a geographical indication for Dominican cocoa.

Hernández said the initiative aims to provide European buyers with greater guarantees regarding origin, traceability, quality, and flavour profiles. She added that virtually all Dominican cocoa exported today already complies with the EU’s anti-deforestation regulation. while a geographical indication would add a new layer of differentiation similar to protected European wine regions.

In tobacco, the conversation turned to what Europe values beyond regulation and paperwork.

Moisés Rodríguez. CEO of La Realeza Dominicana Tobacco. emphasized craftsmanship. family traditions. and social inclusion in the country’s globally recognized cigar industry. “The Dominican cigar is the product of our land. our climate and Dominican labour passed from generation to generation. ” Rodríguez said. linking the sector to employment and regional development.

From Belgium, Laurent Nys—the Director of Brussels’ Mabru wholesale market—offered a market-facing view. He said Belgian consumers increasingly seek high-quality exotic products and encouraged Dominican exporters to invest in quality control. storytelling. and long-term partnerships. “Long-term partnership is long-term business,” he noted, adding that Belgium could serve as an important gateway to wider European markets.

By late afternoon, investment opportunities took centre stage.

A presentation by Andrés Lugo Risk. Executive Director of the General Directorate for Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP). highlighted opportunities created through the Dominican Republic’s public-private partnership model. The discussions also focused on economic growth. the investment climate. and the country’s strategic position as a gateway to the Caribbean.

Representatives from the European Commission and regional investment agencies pointed to sectors including transport. water management. logistics. sustainable development. and innovation. The EU’s Global Gateway strategy was presented as a mechanism capable of mobilising both public and private investment for projects that create local benefits while supporting broader sustainability goals.

Business experiences shared during the forum reinforced the same themes: political stability, growing infrastructure, free trade zones, and a business-friendly environment, alongside support available to foreign investors.

Tourism kept returning to the discussion, not as an afterthought but as one of the Dominican Republic’s central levers.

The country welcomed a record number of visitors in 2025 and is aiming to surpass 12 million tourists annually. Participants said the sector continues to attract investment in hospitality. real estate. transport. and supporting infrastructure while generating employment and economic growth across the country.

Several speakers stressed that the appeal is extending beyond beaches—through increasing air connectivity. political stability. year-round climate. and growing international recognition. They also insisted local communities must benefit through sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and social initiatives.

The day concluded with an evening dedicated to Dominican culture: gastronomy, rum tasting, cigars, music, and dance. Recognition awards were presented to European personalities, with the event drawing in notable political presence.

Among the guests was Boris Dillies. Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region. who attended as he marks his first 100 days in office. His presence underscored growing ties between Brussels and the Dominican Republic. adding a symbolic dimension to the opening edition of Dominican Week in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Across the afternoon, the same message kept resurfacing: the Dominican Republic is trying to position itself not only as a tourism destination or an exporter of agricultural products, but as a reliable long-term partner for European businesses and investors.

Dominican Week Brussels Trade and Investment Forum Cultural Night Joan Cedano Francisco Caraballo Roberto Álvarez ProDominicana Adobanano DR Cocoa Foundation geographical indication EU anti-deforestation regulation La Realeza Dominicana Tobacco Moisés Rodríguez Mabru Laurent Nys DGAPP Andrés Lugo Risk Global Gateway tourism 12 million