Following a 25-year tenure in the Dominican public sector, Julissa Cruz Abreu has been named the Director of Sustainable Digital Infrastructure for CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. She had joined the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) in 2001.
In her new regional capacity, Cruz Abreu will spearhead strategic initiatives to bolster connectivity, technological resilience, and sustainable growth across the continent. Her mandate includes overseeing the development of data centers, enhancing regional computing capabilities, and integrating energy efficiency and renewable sources into digital frameworks.
“I firmly believe in the power of regional and multilateral cooperation to accelerate digital transformation with social and environmental impact,” Cruz Abreu stated regarding her appointment.
Cruz Abreu transitions to CAF after serving as the executive director of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) since 2020. Her departure marks the end of a quarter-century career at the regulatory body, where she rose through the ranks in various technical and senior leadership roles. She is a graduate in accounting from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (Intec), with a masters in corporate finance from the same university. She also has graduate degrees from the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba (Argentina) and Fundacion Cedet (Spain).
Reflecting on her long tenure at Indotel, Cruz Abreu noted that her work was driven by a “vision of the future” aimed at reducing digital divides.
Key milestones under her leadership include:
• 5G deployment: Presiding over the first 5G spectrum auction in Central America and the Caribbean.
• Infrastructure: Overseeing the National Broadband Plan and the transition to Digital Terrestrial Television.
• National strategy: Contributing to the Digital Agenda 2030, the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and the National Innovation Strategy.
Global recognition and leadership
A recognized expert in telecommunications regulation and public policy, Cruz has represented the Dominican Republic before multilateral organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CITEL, COMTELCA, and REGULATEL. She also holds the title of Connectivity Ambassador for Education for the Inter-American Dialogue.
In 2023, Forbes included her in its ranking of the 50 Most Powerful Women in the Dominican Republic, a testament to her influence in the regional tech landscape.
Understanding CAF: The region’s “Green Bank”
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) is a multilateral financial institution dedicated to regional integration and sustainable development. It is owned by 24 member countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe, as well as 13 private banks. The bank provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to both public and private sectors.
CAF aims to become the “Green Bank of the Region,” with a target for 40% of its approvals to be climate- and environment-related by 2026. Beyond digital infrastructure, the bank invests in water and sanitation, urban mobility, energy transition, and health.
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Indotel
CAF
19 March 2026