More than 1.5 billion dollars in convictions avoided and 24 investment controversies preventively managed are part of the results obtained by the Dominican Republic in terms of legal defense international.
During the closing of the International Conference on Commercial and Investment Arbitration, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), Víctor -Ito- Bisonó, highlighted that the prevention mechanisms established have allowed the State to save more than 100 million dollars in costs, strengthening its position in international investment treaties.
One of the pillars of this strategy is National Dispute Prevention System (SNPC), implemented in 2023 in compliance with the Decree 303-15. This system places the country among the few in the world with a formal mechanism to anticipate international legal disputes.
The SNPC integrates tools such as Resolution 270-2023a Prevention Manuala Network of Focal Points and a digital platform hosted in the Virtual Window of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), which facilitate the interaction between public institutions and the private sector.
Investment arbitrations
Since its creation, the State has managed 11 investment arbitrations: seven have concluded in favor of the country and in two it was possible to reduce more than 90% of the amounts claimed.
Furthermore, the Dominican Republic actively participates in dispute resolution processes before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in the global discussions to reform the investor-State dispute settlement system within the framework of the Working Group III of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, with the purpose of promoting greater transparency, predictability and equity.
Since 2020, the MICM has trained more than 1,400 employees of 55 public entities and the first specialized diploma in the subject was held, strengthening the technical capabilities of the State. These functions will be transferred to the new Ministry of Justice, in accordance with the Law 80-25 recently enacted.
The conference concluded with a call to continue strengthening the legal certainty as a basis for investment and competitiveness, reaffirming the national commitment to transparency, good governance and economic justice.
The meeting, organized by the MICM and the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo, brought together arbitrators, academics and legal professionals for two days, with the aim of promoting a proactive legal culture in dispute resolution.
Among the participants were the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Henry Molina, who offered a keynote address on the role of the Judiciary in the consolidation of a pro-arbitration jurisdiction, and the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Lucile Houellemont, promoter of institutional strengthening.
Renowned national and international panelists, arbitrators, academics and legal professionals also participated.
