Tampa Bay Export Alliance heads to Dominican Republic for next trade mission

August 21, 2016

The Tampa Bay Export Alliance will be hosting its next trade mission in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic later this year. The cooperative international business development effort will visit Florida’s fifth largest export market from December 5-8.

The mission, focused solely on trade opportunities, will feature the U.S. Commercial Service Gold Key program. This opportunity provides businesses with pre-screened and customized one-on-one appointments with potential customers in the Dominican Republic.

All mission participants will have access to networking events with the American Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Embassy as well as receptions with the U.S. Ambassador. This mission will also include an opportunity for businesses to learn more about how their products and services may work in other Caribbean markets such as Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago.

“The Dominican Republic offers a strong macroeconomic environment, good governance, transparency, and a well-educated workforce,” said Lorrie Belovich, director of International Business Development for the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. “This mission presents Tampa Bay companies with an excellent opportunity to develop a profitable new market in the Caribbean.”

The best export opportunities to the Dominican Republic include air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, agricultural products, building products, medical equipment, and telecommunications.

Thanks to the CAFTA-DR trade agreement, products and services from the U.S. have established a reputation for quality in the Dominican Republic and have an advantage over foreign competitors. Not only are many major franchises present in both countries, but consumers share similar brand preferences and buying patterns. Roughly 70 percent of the consumer goods imported into the Dominican Republic are from the United States.

The Dominican Republic is attractive for local companies, thanks to our close geographic proximity as well as Port Tampa Bay’s established relationship, including direct container shipping connections provided by Zim and Mediterranean Shipping Co.

For more information about the Dominican Republic mission, please visit the Tampa Bay Export Alliance’s website.

Representatives of the Tampa Hillsborough EDC and Pinellas County Economic Development are also available to address specific questions. Contact Aly Fernandez at (813) 518-2668 or afernandez@tampabayedc.com or Brent Barkway at (727) 464-7411 or bbarkway@pinellascounty.org.