The year 2026 receives the different sectors of the dominican economy with expectations for improvementalthough also with challenges to overcome and plans to be realized. In parallel, economists present various projections on the behavior of the main macroeconomic indicators in the year that has just begun.
Representatives of the industrial sectors, constructionagricultural, trade and of the micro, small and medium enterprises They presented their expectations for the new period.
The industrialists
Mario Pujolsexecutive vice president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), assured that the union will maintain a oriented agenda to the continuity of the regulatory dialogue, the consolidation of the progress achieved in 2025 and the strengthening of formality, productivity and competitiveness of the industrial sector.
Pujols affirmed that the sector is committed to promoting the generation of quality jobs and maintain their investments in the country.
Builders and real estate
The president of the Association of Home Builders and Developers (Acoprovi), Annerys Melendezannounced that the sector’s expectations for 2026 They focus on a moderate improvement“as long as normalization of credit conditions is achieved and decisive public policies are implemented to encourage the supply and demand of housing.”
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“Our conclusion as a union is that 2026 should be the year of investment in housing and competitiveness in construction, so that this sector can continue to drive the economy as in previous years. To do this, an environment is required where administrative efficiency and incentives balance the balance for the end buyer,” he noted.
From the real estate sector, Alberto Bogaertpresident of the Association of Real Estate Companiesforesees a 2026 with important challenges for this economic activity, due to the behavior of the interest ratesthe cost of construction and the need for greater efficiency in permitting processes.
Despite these challenges, he considered that the dominican market maintains solid fundamentals and clear opportunities for well structured projectsaimed at real and sustainable demand.
Moderately optimistic
The Dominican Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises described the outlook for the new year as moderately optimistic, although conditional on the adoption of more inclusive and balanced public policies. He warned, however, that the sector faces a complex environment, marked by high operating costs, regulatory pressure and limitations in access to financing.
The union reported that it will focus on promoting an agenda that prioritizes tax simplification and regulatory, the access to financing under fair conditions, the modernization and digitalization of production, as well as greater participation of MSMEs in public purchases and in productive chains with tourism and free zones.
Innovation agricultural
The National Association of Agricultural Producers (Confenagro) considers that the 2026 It must be the year in which the sector decisively adopts innovation as the norm.
“We believe that it is necessary to boost exports and embrace agroindustrialization as the next stage of presentation of Dominican products in the world. Need financing sources that consider the sector as an industry as a whole and that activate specific financial and fiscal tools for this growth,” he declared. Wilfredo Cabrerapresident of Confenagro.
Merchants
In economic terms, the commerce sector expects the 5% growth goal to be achieved dominican economy during this year.
Ivan Garciapresident of the Dominican Federation of Merchantsstated that in this new period the union will continue to denounce and contribute so that Chinese capital businesses are formalized and comply with the country laws.
Likewise, he announced that they will continue to demand the modification of the Labor Code so that article 50 of the Law 87-01 of Social Security, “in which the replacement of unemployment by a unemployment insurance“, pointing out that, 24 years later, that legal mandate has still not been fulfilled.
Growth and inflationon
For the economist Francisco Tavarezthe dominican economy could register a recovery based on growth of between 4.0% and 4.5%, “as long as negative impact factors do not materialize that redefine the international economic scenario“.
Regarding inflation, he estimated that it would be between 4% and 4.5%, which would mean a slight decrease compared to what is expected 2025.
About him economic growththe former Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Isidoro Santanaopined that the 2026 It will probably be better than the year just concluded, although he warned that the growth rate will not exceed 5%.
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For his part, economist Haivanjoe Ng Cortiñas maintained that 2026 will mark a turning point in the country’s fiscal and financial dynamics. He pointed out that debt service will test fiscal liquidity, the internal financial market and exchange rate stability, becoming the most demanding moment of the immediate cycle.
He indicated that this year the debt service external debt will rise to 5,847 million dollars, the highest level of the recent period, driven by an exceptionally high amortization associated with the maturity of bonds issued in the last decade, to which are added interests close to 3,000 million dollars.
