The British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Dominican Republic are exploring a bold new vision for the Caribbean — establishing the region as a powerful economic hub to strengthen international trade links and safeguard supply chains against global economic disruptions.
This key issue topped the agenda during a bilateral meeting between BVI Special Envoy Mr. Benito Wheatley and Dominican Republic Vice Minister for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Hugo Francisco Rivera Fernández. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 8th Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile.
Vice Minister Rivera highlighted the Dominican Republic’s evolution into a thriving economic hub, noting its robust trade and transportation networks with North, Central, and South America, as well as Europe. He emphasized that these strategic linkages could significantly benefit smaller Caribbean economies like the BVI that are actively seeking to diversify and expand their global trade relationships.
Both officials also advanced discussions on enhancing bilateral economic cooperation, including plans for a BVI trade mission to the Dominican Republic — a move expected to open new avenues for partnership in commerce, investment, and logistics.
“It was a pleasure to engage with Vice Minister Rivera to continue BVI-DR discussions on strengthening economic cooperation,” Wheatley said. “The Dominican Republic’s rapid economic growth and its emerging role as a regional trade gateway present significant opportunities for the BVI. We are committed to working with our Dominican counterparts to deepen collaboration and explore synergies.”
The push for a Caribbean economic hub comes at a time when global supply chains are under increasing pressure from economic uncertainty, climate-related disruptions, and geopolitical tensions. Regional leaders say collaboration is key to creating a resilient, interconnected trade ecosystem that can support sustainable development across the Caribbean.
The meeting between the BVI and the Dominican Republic signals a promising step toward greater regional integration and a more prominent role for the Caribbean on the international trade stage.
