In recent years, government authorities have repeatedly emphasized the idea that the Dominican Republic is a «logistics hub» for the region. While this assertion is ambitious, it is also encouraging and deserves to be analyzed objectively, as there is a fundamental difference between a country that aspires to be a hub and one that truly is.
At a recent event held by the Dominican Association of University Rectors (ADRU), the Director General of Customs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, highlighted the growth of Dominican exports, which, according to him, exceed $12 billion and reach over 160 countries. At the same time, he emphasized that logistics is the country’s main economic sector and that its consolidation will be seen over the next 25 years. These statements, while reflecting institutional optimism, also reveal that the goal is still in the planning and execution phase.
It is undeniable that the Dominican Republic’s geographic location is privileged for becoming a world-class logistics center. Our proximity to strategic markets such as the United States, Latin America, and Europe provides us with a natural competitive advantage. However, achieving that status requires overcoming several structural challenges, including modernizing port and airport infrastructure, reducing logistics costs, improving customs processes, and eliminating regulatory barriers that hinder trade efficiency.
For the country to become a true logistics hub, it is essential to implement structural reforms that optimize connectivity, reduce operational costs, and ensure transparency in customs and fiscal processes. A logistics hub is not built through speeches or optimistic statements alone; it requires strategic planning, investment in infrastructure, human capital development, and a regulatory framework that fosters competitiveness.
The challenge is significant, but so are the opportunities. If we truly want to become a leading logistics center in the region, we must focus on coherent public policies, fair trade agreements, and the implementation of measures that protect the national economy, ensuring that foreign trade growth benefits all sectors of the country.
The Dominican Republic has the potential to be a logistics hub, but in my humble opinion, it is not there yet. The road to that goal is filled with challenges, and only through concrete and sustainable actions can we turn that vision into a tangible economic reality.
Excerpt from the article by José Peña Santana for El Nuevo Diario