The murder of Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera brought changes to the agenda of President Luis Abinader who would have traveled to Los Angeles early on Tuesday, 7 June 2022 to attend the Summit of the Americas. Instead, President Abinader left in the evening. The delay was so that he could be present at the mass held for Jorge Mera at the Presidential Palace and other related activities. First Lady Raquel Arbaje, who would have participated in the spouse activities in Los Angeles, did not make the trip to be present at the burial of the beloved minister and personal friend.
The Presidency reported that President Abinader traveled with Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez and ProDominicana’s executive director, Biviana Riveiro. Also with the director of the Presidential Office, Lourdes Herrera and the secretary of the Presidential Cabinet, Eilyn Beltrán.
Industry & Commerce Minister Victor (Ito) Bisonó is part of the official delegation at the Summit.
President Abinader is scheduled to participate in several plenary sessions and bilateral meetings with heads of state, heads of government, international organizations and multinational companies interested in investing in the Dominican Republic. On his agenda are meetings with Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry. Meetings with the Haitian prime minister and the Canadian prime minister, and other heads of state and government leaders, will be held during the plenary sessions of the event.
The Summit of the Americas officially begins on Wednesday 8 June and ends on Friday, 10 January. Abinader is scheduled to be back on Saturday, 12 June via Punta Cana International Airport.
In Los Angeles, on Wednesday, 8 June, Abinader is scheduled to meet executives from Cargill, Edwards Lifesciences and MasterCard. He will also hold a meeting and be present for a photo take with US Vice President Kamala Harris, and heads of state and government of other Caribbean countries.
On Wednesday, he is also scheduled to visit Elon Musks’ SpaceX headquarters and meet its executives.
The President will participate along with Industry and Commerce Minister Victor (Ito) Bisonó in the panel discussion “Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law.” Other participants are the Presidents of Panama and Costa Rica, countries with which the Dominican Republic has a new regional block.
President Abinader is scheduled to have lunch with the High-Level Business Council of the Alliance for Development in Democracy.
He will attend the inaugural ceremony, with US President Joe Biden at the Microsoft Theater.
On Wednesday night, President Abinader will attend a dinner of the “IV Business Forum 2022-Celebrating Creators and Winners,” hosted by the Motion Picture Association.
On Thursday, 9 June, the Dominican president will participate in the opening plenary session of the IX Summit, and will hold meetings with representatives of important companies interested in the investment climate in the country.
In the evening, Abinader will attend the dinner offered by the President and Vice President of the United States of America to the heads of state and government attending the IX Summit of the Americas.
On Friday, June 10, the Dominican President is scheduled to participate in the Second Plenary Session of Heads of State and Government.
In the afternoon, the Dominican head of state will take part in the “Round Table of Leaders, Heads of State and Government” with civil society, private sector and youth representatives, and in a meeting on Democratic Governance against Corruption.
On the agenda of President Abinader is also a meeting with Mario Cimotli, Acting Executive Secretary of ECLAC.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
8 June 2022