488 / 540
CHAPTER 46
Considerations on the Relationship
between the Dominican Republic
and Italy (Testimonial)
By Víctor Bisonó
Minister of Industry, Commerce and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the Dominican Republic
•
rom the moment I received an invitation from Ambassador Andrea Canepari to present a few ideas
for this collection, we focused on highlighting the details of the commercial relationship between the
Dominican Republic and Italy, emphasizing the success stories that have emanated from the positive
and beneficial business climate and corporate security that prevail in our country.
During this process, it was very pleasant to recall all the points that link me on a personal basis with the
Italian nation, from the time my parents chose Italy for their professional studies at the beginning of the 1960s:
in the case of my mother, the soprano Ivonne Haza del Castillo, for her musical studies at the Santa Cecilia
Conservatory in Rome, and as for my father, Dr. Víctor G. Bisonó Pichardo, for his doctorate in architecture at
the Università Degli Studi di Roma. Both, later, were decorated with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
(
Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
), which they have always displayed with great pride, high-
lighting at every opportunity the cultural, culinary, and economic wealth of Italy. Subsequently, while serving
as a legislator, I had the opportunity to personally share those feelings of pride and to be able to establish close
ties with the Italian Congress, which we continue to maintain to this day.
Now, acting as Minister of Industry, Commerce and Micro, Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (MICM)
by appointment of H.E. President Luis Abinader Corona, my authority includes the formulation and imple-
mentation of public policies that directly affect sectors linked to industry, exports, internal trade, free zones,
special regimes, MSMEs, and foreign trade.
Within this framework, and to provide greater context, we should note that it is the responsibility of the
MICM to ensure proper implementation of the Economic Association Agreement (EPA) signed in 2008 be-
tween our countries. Similarly, we must follow up on any issue arising from the Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement, which has been in force since 2007. This agreement offers certainty and security for
Italian entrepreneurs who choose the Dominican Republic as the destination for their investments.
In this regard, it is worth noting that since the Economic Association Agreement (EPA) took effect in 2008,
trade between the Dominican Republic and Italy has doubled in value during the last 10 years in the case of
imports from Italy, with Dominican exports to that market increasing by 30% in the same time span.
In 2019, Dominican exports to Italy included ferronickel, medical products and equipment, bananas, ca-
cao, rum, cigars, and fertilizers, while imports from Italy for the same period were led by jewelry, plastic prod-
ucts, various types of machinery and parts, leather, tobacco, hair-care products, plumbing supplies, pasta, and
wine. However, the 2019 figures reflect that the Dominican Republic ranks only 83
rd
as trading partner for the
purchase of Italian goods and 112
th
as an exporter of goods to Italy. We can and must improve this situation.
Our country can serve as a base for the production of Italian products destined for the United States, Cen-