Germany strengthens cooperation with DR in democracy, economy, environment, and culture

Santo Domingo.- The ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Dominican Republic, Maike Friedrichsen, opened the doors of the Embassy Residence to receive journalists from various national media, in a meeting aimed at presenting the current and future priorities of cooperation between both countries.

Germany and the Dominican Republic maintain solid and trusting relations, based on shared values such as democracy and respect for international law. In this context, the Ambassador highlighted Germany's firm commitment to institutional strengthening and the fight against corruption. "This will remain one of our priority axes in 2026," he emphasized. The Ambassador recalled the organization of the first International Congress against Corruption in 2025 together with the Public Ministry, as well as various training sessions and activities designed to strengthen the Rule of Law. Germany has been a key partner in development cooperation with the Dominican Republic for almost five decades, focusing on areas such as sustainable energy, the circular economy, and biodiversity protection. Through initiatives such as the Euroclima program, the El Seibo Resilient project, and public-private collaborations, sustainable solutions have been promoted for the management of sargassum, community resilience, energy transition, and the conservation of marine ecosystems, with special emphasis on sustainable tourism, the restoration and rehabilitation of coral reefs, as well as the reforestation of mangroves. In addition, projects such as "From the Field to the Plate" and cooperation for sargassum research have promoted the integration of biodiversity into agri-food value chains and scientific research on sargassum.

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The Ambassador also highlighted support for community micro-projects, with 15 million pesos planned for 2026, as well as climate initiatives, human rights projects, and the work of German volunteers who collaborate with Dominican organizations. Furthermore, the boost in economic relations was underscored. German investments continue to grow, and German companies are among the largest investors in free trade zones, especially in the tobacco and medical technology sectors. Germany maintains a strong commitment to free trade, excellence, and reliable cooperation among equal partners. In January 2026, the visit of the DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft) is expected, one of the main financial institutions in Germany dedicated to supporting the private sector in developing countries, to offer technical and financial support to the Dominican private sector. The German development bank KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau), in collaboration with the CABEI (Central American Bank for Economic Integration), will continue to co-finance projects such as the expansion of the Santo Domingo Metro. In addition, from May 18 to 22, 2026, a large regional "German Week" is planned with a large economic delegation, in order to strengthen economic relations and take advantage of the Dominican Republic's position as a regional logistics center.