The main products sold globally by companies in the Dominican Republic export sector led by women in 2022 are gold, jewelry, cocoa beans, soybean oil, plantains, and bananas, among others. The leading consumer markets for these products are Switzerland, India, the United States, and Haiti.
The Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana) and the Dominican Association of Businesswomen (ADME) signed a collaborative agreement to develop a portfolio of services for the benefit of women in the Dominican Republic export sector to promote the productivity and global reach of the country’s businesswomen.
Women-led businesses in the Dominican Republic export sector generate jobs
In this sense, the executive director of ProDominicana, Biviana Riveiro Disla, indicated that this agreement was made to promote the relationship between trade and gender equality, promote the internationalization of products and services of Dominican origin, and establish the coordination for the execution of female empowerment projects. This includes training activities that aim to develop processes and procedures for exporting products of micro, small, and medium-sized businesses led by women.
“We are sure that this alliance will support the productive processes of Dominican women due to the large number of jobs they generate in the country and their flexibility in adapting to new technologies. This is why the government of the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, has worked in favor of this important segment of the Dominican Republic export sector,” he indicated.
Riveiro also highlighted the commitment to developing policies promoting women entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic export sector. “At ProDominicana, we will work actively to continue positioning women in international business,” she said.
The President of ADME, Julissa Jiménez, highlighted her organization’s commitment to guaranteeing the necessary mechanisms to position businesswomen in the Dominican Republic export sector, understanding that this segment represents one of the primary columns in the Dominican economy. Representatives of ADME, businesswomen exporters of goods and services from different provinces of the country, participated in the signing of the agreement.
ProDominicana organized a national meeting for women exporters
It is highlighted that the results achieved in the axis of supporting the promotion and internationalization of women exporters in the Dominican Republic, from August 2020 to June 2023, ProDominicana has managed the organization and execution of the National Meeting “Women in Exportation.” This meeting has had three editions that presented the study of “Exports of companies led by women and their impact on the Dominican economy.”
Within the framework of this event, a fair was held with the exhibition of products from more than 23 women-led companies in each edition from different sectors: beauty and cosmetics, agro-industrial products, jewelry and costume jewelry, clothing, furniture, crafts, cocoa, products baby, fashion, crafts, grocery, and frozen products, as well as recognition of companies led by women with outstanding performance in exports each year.
Likewise, Riveiro highlighted that exports from companies led by women in the Dominican Republic export sector closed in 2022 with US $1.8 billion, which were sold in 84 markets. This, in turn, shows the increase women have had in exports emanating from the DR. Furthermore, during the January-August 2023 period, this value stood at US$998.6 million. It is highlighted that these women-led companies exhibited the creation of an average of 25,000 formal jobs.
Regarding the main products exported by companies led by women in 2022 in the Dominican Republic export sector, they are gold, jewelry, cocoa beans, soybean oil, plantains, and bananas, among others. Switzerland, India, the United States, and Haiti are the main markets.
Supporting women-led businesses is a positive for the Dominican Republic
Supporting women-led businesses exporting products from the Dominican Republic is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it fosters economic empowerment and gender equality. Historically, women in many parts of the world have faced barriers to accessing economic opportunities and leadership roles. Institutional backing of women-led businesses in the Dominican Republic export sector helps these entrepreneurs thrive and sets a powerful example for other aspiring female leaders. This support can increase women’s financial independence, improve living standards, and reduce gender disparities in income and wealth.
Secondly, supporting these businesses contributes to the overall economic growth of the Dominican Republic. Export-oriented companies in the country have the potential to bring in foreign exchange, create jobs, and stimulate innovation within the country. Women-led businesses often bring a unique perspective and innovative ideas, which can drive competitiveness in international markets. Furthermore, when women are economically empowered, they tend to invest more in their families, education, and healthcare, thus indirectly benefiting the entire community and fostering sustainable development. In essence, supporting women-led businesses in the Dominican Republic export sector is a win-win scenario that not only promotes gender equality but also contributes to the nation’s economic prosperity.