Dominican Republic - Country Commercial Guide
Selling to the Public Sector

Describes how major projects are secured and financed. Explains activities of the multilateral development banks in and other aid-funded projects. 

Last published date: 2022-12-12

Financing of Projects 

The United States Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to help finance the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.  The Ex-Im Bank is open in the Dominican Republic, financing U.S. exports for both the public and private sectors. 

For more information, please refer to The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) portal under the Country Limitation Schedule. 

The Development Finance Corporation (DFC, previously known as OPIC) facilitates financing and insurance for private sector projects generally and, under limited circumstances, public sector projects.  DFC windows are currently open for the Dominican Republic. 

The U.S. Trade & Development Agency (TDA) promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential.  This is done through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various technical assistance forms.  TDA programs are available in the Dominican Republic.  

The Inter-American Development Bank provides funding primarily to public sector entities for the design and execution of projects.  IDB projects provide U.S. suppliers of goods and services significant export opportunities, including the transportation, environmental, health, education, urban development, tourism, agriculture, and energy sectors.  Approved projects in the Dominican Republic can be found at the Inter-American Development Bank portal

U.S. Commercial Service Liaison Offices at the Multilateral Development Banks  

(Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank) 

The Commercial Service maintains Commercial Liaison Offices in each of the main Multilateral Development Banks, including the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank. These institutions lend billions of dollars in developing countries on projects aimed at accelerating economic growth and social development by reducing poverty and inequality, improving health and education, and advancing infrastructure development. The Commercial Liaison Offices help American businesses learn how to get involved in bank-funded projects and advocate on behalf of American bidders. Learn more by contacting the Commercial Liaison Office to the Inter-American Development Bank portal and the Commercial Liaison Office to the World Bank portal. 

Resources 

  • Commercial Liaison Office to the Inter-American Development Bank: https://www.trade.gov/idb 

  • Commercial Liaison Office to the World Bank: https://www.trade.gov/world-bank 

Deal Team 

Deal Teams are working groups of interagency officers and staff at our overseas posts focused on helping U.S. companies do business in their markets.  The purpose of the Deal Team Initiative is to support U.S. companies already pursuing deals abroad and to identify new deal prospects for interested U.S. companies.  Deal Teams are essential tools in implementing commercial diplomacy. 

Deal Teams are a powerful tool because they bring together the collective programs, resources, and expertise of the U.S. government.  The U.S. government agencies represented in the Deal Teams include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, State, Transportation, and Treasury; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). 

U.S. government agencies have dozens of programs to support U.S. commercial interests overseas.  Embassy Deal Teams raise awareness of these programs and coordinate their utilization.  Deal Teams tap into the programs, resources, and expertise of U.S. government agencies to help U.S. companies do business and advance U.S. strategic goals.  Deal teams will provide preferred package solutions that include feasibility studies, technical assistance, financing, and training to support the most strategic and significant bids by U.S. companies. 

To get more information about the Deal Team of the Caribbean Region, please contact Regional Senior Commercial Specialist: Maria Portorreal (maria.portorreal@trade.gov).  

Resources 

  • Export-Import Bank of the United States: https://www.exim.gov/ 

  • Country Limitation Schedule: https://www.exim.gov/tools-for-exporters/country-limitation-schedule 

  • U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC): https://www.dfc.gov/ 

  • SBA’s Office of International Trade: https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters-offices/office-international-trade 

  • U.S. Agency for International Development: https://www.usaid.gov/ 

  • Inter-American Development Bank: https://www.iadb.org/en