The Dominican Republic’s economy is showing strong momentum, with foreign direct investment (FDI) hitting US$2.89 billion in the first half of 2025, according to preliminary figures from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD). This marks a significant 15.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
The robust performance has the Central Bank projecting that FDI will surpass US$4.7 billion by the end of the year, a result that underscores international investor confidence in the country. For the third consecutive year, the Dominican Republic has cemented its position as the top recipient of foreign investment in the region, a fact highlighted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Sectoral analysis reveals that nearly half of the FDI inflows were concentrated in the tourism and energy sectors. The energy sector, in particular, has seen a remarkable evolution, with its share of FDI expanding from 7.5% in the first half of 2019 to 25.7% in the first six months of 2025. This surge is largely attributed to government incentives for renewable energy projects.
The UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025 has praised the country for strengthening its position as one of the most attractive destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean for renewable energy investments. The real estate sector also saw strong growth, buoyed by the nation’s thriving tourism industry, which has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond FDI, the Dominican economy saw impressive gains across other key areas:
• Total exports: Reached over US$7.4 billion in the first half of 2025, a 10.4% increase over the previous year. Gold exports led the charge with a 48.3% rise, driven by improved production and historically high international prices.
• Free zone exports: Amounted to nearly US$4.25 billion, an increase of 2.3% year-over-year, putting the sector on track for a record-breaking year.
• Tourism revenue: Generated approximately US$5.8 billion between January and June, a 1.8% increase from the same period in 2024. This was fueled by a record 6.1 million visitors arriving by air and sea.
The Central Bank noted that total foreign exchange inflows—from FDI, remittances, tourism, and exports—reached approximately US$23.9 billion in the first six months of the year, a key factor contributing to the relative stability of the exchange rate. The bank reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring the economic landscape and taking necessary measures to maintain price and exchange rate stability amid a challenging international environment.
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Central Bank
5 August 2025