Dominican Republic’s Central Bank Governor Héctor Valdez Albizu met with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive director for Brazil and head of the country’s chair, André Roncaglia, and the IMF mission led by Emilio Fernández-Corugedo at the conclusion of their “Staff Visit” to the country. The visit aimed to assess the Dominican economy’s performance and prospects ahead of the upcoming Article IV consultation later this year.
Key points from Governor Valdez Albizu:
• Strong economic performance: The Dominican economy performed well in 2024, growing by 5.0%, one of the highest rates in Latin America.
• Controlled inflation: Inflation has remained within the target range of 4% ± 1% for the last 15 months, standing at 3.56% year-over-year in February 2025, with underlying inflation at 4.21%.
• Optimism despite uncertainty: Valdez Albizu expressed optimism about the future of the Dominican economy despite global uncertainty, highlighting the country’s resilience, strong legal framework, and robust financial system.
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IMF response:
• Positive impressions: André Roncaglia, IMF executive director for Brazil, praised the Dominican Republic’s preparedness to face international uncertainties.
• Growth projections: The IMF mission projected Dominican economic growth of 4.5% in 2025 and 5.1% in 2026, citing strong macroeconomic fundamentals, social stability, and legal security as key factors.
• Praise for the financial sector: The IMF reaffirmed the robustness of the Dominican banking sector with adequate capitalization and high profitability.
The head of the IMF mission emphasized: “The IMF team estimates Dominican Republic economic growth of 4.5% in 2025 and 5.1% in 2026. This, coupled with its solid macroeconomic fundamentals, social stability, and legal security, will enable the country to navigate the uncertain international environment.”
The meeting underscored the positive outlook for the Dominican economy despite global headwinds and highlighted the country’s commitment to sound economic policies.
Read more in Spanish:
Central Bank
El Caribe
19 March 2025