Project Description
This Technical Assistance (TA) aims to support the government of the DR and investor-facing bodies that work with Free Zones (FZ) to enrich the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in strategic high value-added manufacturing sectors targeted to FZ, and to assist the country in transitioning to the EIP model, which prioritizes operational and economically viable improvements in energy and water systems, waste and emissions management, tenant services, park governance, social infrastructure, inclusion and labor practices, and linkages to SMEs and global value chains. Such change would provide quality industrial processes, and differentiation from competitors, attracting green FDI.
The project is expected to improve the ability of the country to attract FDI into FZ. This will be achieved by increasing the current capacity of investment promotion and facilitation, assisting the government in institutional and regulatory changes that would help spur private capital in target growth sectors as well as facilitate the transition for the adoption of EIP practices in FZ.
Component 1: Support the country’s investment promotion efforts to leverage sustainable FDI opportunities in Free Zones (FZ) in the Dominican Republic.
Designed to leverage sustainable FDI opportunities in the DR, in three strategic sectors that currently operate and are of interest to the country’s economic zones, such as MedTech/Medical Devices, Semiconductor/EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services), and Automotive/E-mobility. Through such advisory support, IFC will help strengthen the DR’s value proposition and competitive advantage to attract higher flows of FDI into high value-added manufacturing sectors.
Component 2. Support the pilot implementation of Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) standards to attract sustainable investments in strategic sectors in the DR.
Designed to help analyze and prepare both existing and greenfield economic zones to gain awareness of, and transition toward, the forthcoming international eco -industrial park standard designed to boost their competitiveness and attract quality investors via the adoption of international best practice sustainability solutions (i.e. in governance, environment, and socio-economic categories).