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CHAPTER 47
Foreign and Commercial Policy
of the Dominican Republic
in the Context of
COVID-19
1
By Roberto Álvarez
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic
•
ollowing is an excerpt of remarks delivered by the keynote speaker,
His Excellency Roberto Álvarez at a conference organized
by the Dominican-Italian Chamber of Commerce on September 22, 2020.
It is an honor for me to be participating here, on the occasion of the launching of this important monthly
cycle of conferences being held by the Italian Embassy and the Dominican-Italian Chamber of Commerce
and, even more so, to be able to share with you certain aspects of the Foreign and Commercial Policy of the
Dominican Republic, especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has so gravely affected the health of
our citizens and the stability of our economies.
[...]
II. Dominican foreign policy priorities
The current health and economic crisis implies a greater strategic importance regarding the foreign and
commercial policy of the Dominican Republic. The foreign policy program of the new government had iden-
tified a series of priorities that, in this context, have now become vital necessities.
I will focus my attention on the objectives of our foreign policy in the Americas and Europe, since they are
complementary to each other. It is essential that our country establish a good neighbor relationship with Haiti
and revive our ties with the Caribbean countries integrated into CARICOM. The Caribbean is our natural ge-
ographic space, and in general the country has lived with its back turned toward it. The current pandemic and
climate emergency force us to see that threats to the security and well-being of the country cannot be handled
only from the vantage point of internal politics but require regional coordination.
[...]
Relations with the European Union (EU) and its member States are also of strategic importance to our
country, due to the size of that market and the free trade agreement of which we have not yet fully taken
advantage.
III. Direct investment and international cooperation
[...]
In terms of cooperation, the Dominican Republic has benefited principally from Italian high technology
integrated into the agricultural and artisanal industries. The scholarships awarded and the professional and
academic training of our young people have been of inestimable value.