The main objective of this research is to collect comprehensive investment information on the Dominican Republic, including the humangeographical environment, the political and economic situation, the legal framework and so on. Furthermore, this project also aims to analyze the niche industries in which the Taiwan entrepreneurs could invest, for the reference of domestic manufacturers.
The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean. The country shares the same island as Haiti, and her eastern side is close to Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic covers an area of 48,442 sq. km., making it the second largest country in the Caribbean region, being surpassed only by Cuba. The country’s population is about 8,870,000, and, since it has focused on agriculture for a long time, it abounds with tropical industrial crops, including sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, and tobacco, etc. Currently, 48% of the people still make a living by engaging in agriculture. The three main pillars of the economy of the Dominican Republic are the tourism industry, processing manufacturing and overseas remittances. Among these three main supports, the tourism industry is the most important in particular. Most parts of the coast of the Dominican Republic enjoy an international reputation, and attract a large number of tourists from the U.S. and Europe every year, which has accounted for more than 70% of total export value since the year 2000.
The Dominican Republic was hit by a financial crisis in 2003, the exchange rate fluctuated violently, and the economy suffered a major recession. However, since the government was reelected in 2004, the situation has gradually improved. In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has helped the country’s economy progressively improve. The growth rate of GDP increased to 7.7% in 2006, and income per capita reached $3,071 in that same year. Generally speaking, the new government of the Dominican Republic has paid much attention
