In a bid to boost international trade engagement among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo (CCPSD) have unveiled an ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship in the Dominican Republic. This initiative aligns with CCPSD’s mission to enhance business growth in the Dominican Republic and expands ICC’s global network of Entrepreneurship Centres, now totalling fifteen since its inception in Istanbul in 2020.
The inauguration event, held in Santo Domingo, witnessed the presence of notable dignitaries, including the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Ms. Raquel Peña Rodríguez. Leading the ceremony were ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO, CCPSD Second Vice-President of the Board of Directors Anyerlene Bergés, CCPSD Executive Vice-President Antonio Ramos, and Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs Victor (Ito) Bisonó.
ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO expressed enthusiasm about expanding the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship network to the Dominican Republic, emphasising the collaborative efforts with CCPSD to facilitate SMEs’ global market participation and foster growth opportunities.
Highlighting the pivotal role of SMEs in the Dominican Republic’s economy, Ms. Bergés emphasised the significance of initiatives like the Centre of Entrepreneurship in supporting SMEs’ expansion into international markets. She underscored the potential for SMEs to diversify income sources and capitalise on emerging business prospects.
Mr. Ramos emphasised the strategic alliance between CCPSD and ICC, enabling the establishment of a supportive ecosystem for Dominican companies to access international trade knowledge and connections. He also highlighted the CCPSD One Click programme, designed to provide structured tools for SMEs to successfully internationalise.
The ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship collaborates closely with chambers of commerce worldwide to extend networks and offer global training, virtual mentoring, and coaching to inspire entrepreneurship, digitise SMEs, and enhance their global competitiveness. Since their inception, Entrepreneurship Centres have been established in various cities worldwide, including Accra, Beirut, Buenos Aires, and Jakarta, among others.
