At the inauguration of the second edition of Crece 2025, an event promoted by the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo (Ccpsd), Lucile Houellemont, president of the entity, highlighted the relevance of business climate in the Dominican Republic and the importance of supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) such as economic growth engine.
The president of the Camera He began his speech by reflecting on the history of the Chamber of Commercewhich dates back to 1847, and how, in times of uncertainty, a visionary group decided to bet on business organization. This act of faith in the future continue today with Dominican entrepreneurswho, like more than a century ago, trust in transforming ideas into companies that generate jobs and promote economic development.
According to Houellemont, the Dominican Republic is a privileged destination to do business thanks to your stable economy and growing, strategic geographic location and access to important international markets.
“The Dominican Republic is an attractive country to do business: we have an economy that grows steadily and stable, a strategic geographic location, global connectivity and access to important markets through free trade agreements,” said the executive.
The recent National Survey of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the Central Bank reveals that there are more than 400,000 MSMEs in the country, which represent 85% of economic units and generate more than three million jobs.
New companies
Santo Domingo, in particular, concentrates more than 40,000 MSMEswhich reflects the business dynamism of the city.
Additionally, Houellemont mentioned that this year, around 25,000 new companies have been formalized, of which more than 7,300 are located in the capital, which – in their opinion – reflects the confidence of the private sector in the current economic environment.
“We have a favorable climate for private investment because we have social, economic and political stability, and legal security for companies. And because we have a State convinced that it is the “productive sectors that give impetus and sustainability to our economic growth,” he stated.
An important aspect of the speech was the mention of the support of the government and financial institutions for entrepreneurs. Houellemont stressed that access to formal credit It is one of the biggest challenges for MSMEs, since they are often tempted to resort to informal or usurious networks due to the lack of adequate options.
In this sense, he requested that both the State and financial institutions continue to promote products designed for the specific needs of MSMEs.
He said that the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo has been actively working on support and training projects for MSMEs, such as: the Entrepreneurship Center and the MujerEs Directory, which promotes female participation in the business sector.
Furthermore, the implementation of Fedocámaras Digital seeks to transform the Commercial Registry of the Dominican Republic, strengthening legal security and improving competitiveness to attract more investments.
The president also highlighted the importance of digitalization and technological acceleration for the growth of companies. In this sense, the Chamber has designed initiatives such as Grow in Actiona training space and networkingto help entrepreneurs adapt, innovate and grow in the digital age.
- He specified that the second edition of Grow 2025 It will focus on key topics such as female leadership, business formalization, process optimization with artificial intelligence, and the use of digital tools such as electronic invoicing and digital signature.
Houellemont closed his speech with a message of optimism, highlighting that the true driving force of economic growth It is creativity and the human spirit.
In his opinion, the key To achieve the sustained development of the country lies in promoting innovation and supporting entrepreneurs, who, with the appropriate support, have the power to transform the national economy and place the Dominican Republic as a benchmark in the region.
A climate of trust and growth
The Dominican Republic continues to consolidate itself as a attractive destination for businesswith an environment of political, social and economic stability, and growing confidence in the entrepreneurial abilities of its citizens.
The Chamber of Commerce Santo Domingo plays a crucial role in this process, providing the tools and the support necessary so that MSMEs can face the challenges of modernity and continue contributing to the growth of the country.
