Dominican Republic
Last updated in October 2009
Political relations
Economic relations (especially tourism) and German development cooperation are important factors in political relations between the Dominican Republic and Germany. There is a colony of over 10,000 Germans who have settled in the country, mostly on the northern coast (Puerto Plata, Cabarete and Sosua). In April 2007, the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the Dominican Republic for the first time to attend the European Union’s regional foreign ministers’ meeting with the Rio Group.
Economic relations
Economic relations between Germany and the Dominican Republic intensified greatly, especially during the country’s economic upswing in the late 1990s.
A number of German companies are already operating in the country or have conducted project negotiations. The Dominican government is especially interested in German alternative-energy products to solve problems in the power sector.
Bilateral trade has benefited from the strong growth of the Dominican economy. In 2008, German exports to the Dominican Republic were worth EUR 185.7 million, and German imports from the Dominican Republic increased to EUR 132.9 million.
For the Dominican Republic, Germany is one of the principal European markets for organic products (bananas, cocoa and coffee) and a German firm for ecostandards has set up business in the country to monitor product quality. Germany exports vehicles, vehicles parts, machinery as well as chemical products.
A friendship, trade and shipping agreement dates from 13 December 1957 and an air traffic agreement from 23 July 1992. A German-Dominican Chamber of Commerce was set up in 1994, which has over 150 members and has been admitted to the German Regional Chamber of Commerce for Central America and the Caribbean. It is also a founding member of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic.
Development cooperation
Development cooperation is of particular importance in bilateral relations. According to the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) 2007/2008 Human Development Report, the Dominican Republic ranks 79th, i.e. in the midfield, among the 177 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index. Despite its own successful efforts (e.g. tourism, private sector), it still requires international support to improve developmental indicators. It occupies a low regional position as measured against some poverty indicators. According to Dominican Planning Ministry figures, approx. 36% of Dominicans live in poverty. Germany makes an important contribution under Technical and Financial Cooperation. German assistance focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources. Germany has provided a total of more than EUR 226 million in development cooperation since cooperation began, making Germany one of the principal bilateral donors alongside Spain, Canada and the US. In future, cooperation will increasingly shift its focus to regional programmes, principally HIV/AIDS prevention, renewable energy and implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the regional association CARIFORUM.
In addition, Germany is a major funder of development cooperation with the Dominican Republic within the European Union, which is one of the Dominican Republic’s principal multilateral donors: The total volume of projects and programmes agreed with the Dominican Republic for the period 2008-2013 under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) amounts to just under EUR 200 million, Germany contributing approximately 20 per cent of this sum.
Cultural relations
There has been a tangible increase in interest in Germany, the German language and the German cultural presence in the country, not least as a result of tourism. Germany is seen as a key nation in terms of business and technology but also in terms of culture. For more than 50 years, the language courses organized by the Embassy have enjoyed great popularity. In early 2001, the Dominican government gave the German-Dominican Cultural Association a house in the old colonial town (World Heritage site) for use as a German-Dominican cultural centre (c/Isabel La Católica No. 212, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo). The house was restored with funds provided by the German government and the Association as well as with donations from German business. Since then, the Centro Dominico-Aléman has made a name for itself, especially with exhibitions and concerts.
