Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Jamaica Angie Martinez is batting for more balance in trade relations between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, noting that while imports from her homeland to Jamaica have increased significantly within the past few years, the same cannot be said about exports from Jamaica to the Spanish-speaking country.

The diplomat was speaking Thursday at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston at the Keys to LATAM conference which aimed to expose Jamaican companies to export opportunities in Latin American, including the Dominican Republic. During her presentation, Martinez made several recommendations to Jamaican businesses looking to export to the Dominican Republic and called on the Government and private sector interest groups to do more to reduce the trade imbalance.

“Jamaican and the Dominican Republic have much to offer in terms of business opportunities. Our mission at the Dominican embassy in Jamaica is not only to promote Dominican trade and investment but also to facilitate Jamaican businesses and investment in both the Dominican Republic and Jamaica,” she told the gathering, adding that the two-way approach has always been a critical component of the embassy’s operations.

While noting that the objectives of Keys to LATAM conference is aligned to that of the Dominican Republic’s foreign mission, Martinez noted that since arriving to Jamaica she has been “committed [to] developing a win-win relation[ship] between our two countries”, working to enhance understanding between government authorities and the private sector.

Since the start of her diplomatic mission in 2020, the ambassador said she has witnessed improvements in both air and sea connectivity, with cargo transportation reduced from 15 days to two days and the establishment of direct flights between both countries that decreased travel time from 14 hours to just over an hour.

Moreover, she pointed to a significant improvement in exports over a one-year period: Jamaican exports to the Dominican Republic jumped from US$1.2 million in 2020 to $2.7 million a year after.

“So here’s the message: It can be done. Yes we can…it requires focus, the correct strategies, and we [already] have the willingness from the governmental authorities because we have the ‘minister of business’ [Senator Aubyn Hill] that is making that happen and those numbers are growing,” Martinez said.

However, she lamented that over the last decade exports from Jamaica have not been consistent, rising to a high of US$10 million to falling to a low of US$500,000.

In contrast, over the last 25 years, exports from the Dominican Republic to Jamaica have increased at an annualised rate of 11.4 per cent — from US$8.78 million in 1996 to $130 million in 2021 — according to figures from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

“We’ve witnessed periods of growth, decline, and resurgence. The journey is not linear, but it is our responsibility to recognise the inflection points that shape our trajectory,” Martinez said, directing her comment to Minister of Industry, investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill.

“As we delve into statistic evidence that this number has doubled, the real possibilities remain vastly unchartered. Given our proximity, Jamaica should be exporting more than [US]$2.7 million to the Dominican Republic… We want more balance,” she demanded.

In this regard, Martinez pointed out that innovation and competitiveness are imperative if Jamaica should change the trajectory of its trade relations with the Dominican Republic. Additionally, she said businesses should utilise the necessary “keys” to access the Dominican market and wider Latin America.

One such, she said, was leveraging diplomatic services of both the domestic market and the target market.

“This is something that Jamaica is doing well from our authorities and the business community in some way. At our embassy, we are constantly receiving requests for support from Jamaican companies looking to do business in the Dominican Republic,” the ambassador stated, adding that she has used her legal skills and network with the business community in that country to vet agreements for local companies.

She also encouraged reaching out and visiting key players in the export market, such as chambers of commerce, business associations, and government trade agencies. This, she said, would provide valuable information and help exporters to better understand the needs of the target market.

“This also includes knowing about any existing trade agreements between the countries, as this can provide also benefits such as preferential agreements and tariffs waivers,” Martinez explained.

“Our markets are not always as organised, predictable, or formal as we think or wish. It is essential to find key allies on the ground who can guide and assist exporters,'” she added.

And while there is a language barrier between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries, she argued that this should not be an excuse or a deterrent to trade, as with the use of technology, such as Google Translate and artificial intelligence, it is now easier to communicate.