As the global supply chain accelerates its restructuring, a new manufacturing and logistics hub is emerging along the Caribbean coast. Dubai International Ports Group and the government of the Dominican Republic announced at the 12th World Free Zone Organization Conference in 2026 that they will invest an additional $100 million to expand the logistics and warehousing facilities in the Dubai International Ports Free Trade Zone. This additional funding further increases the previously promised investment of 760 million US dollars, demonstrating the firm willingness of both parties to deepen cooperation.

Accelerated infrastructure upgrade for landing

This $100 million will be jointly promoted with the Dominican Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Small and Medium Enterprises, with a focus on building new warehousing facilities, enhancing overall logistics throughput capacity, and further integrating the Port of Cosedo, Free Zone, and logistics service chain to cope with the continuous increase in regional trade volume.

Looking back to May 2025, Dubai Ports International signed a $760 million memorandum of understanding with the Dominican government to initiate the expansion project of the Port of Cosedo and the Free Trade Zone. In less than a year, the additional investment was implemented and the project progressed at a faster pace than expected.

The sustained release of economic driving effect

According to an independent assessment by Oxford Economics, headquartered in the UK, DP World has created nearly 5000 jobs nationwide in the Dominican Republic and is expected to drive the country's goods exports to $2.4 billion by 2035.

In 2024, the total trade volume handled by the Port of Cosedo has reached 13.3 billion US dollars, accounting for a considerable proportion of the country's total trade volume. This set of data indicates that ports are not only logistics nodes, but have also become the core engine of economic growth in the Dominican Republic. Keywords: Free Trade Zone, Logistics Hub

Behind the growth of investment figures from 760 million to 860 million US dollars is a clear path for Caribbean countries to achieve industrial upgrading through the power of globalization. The story of Port Cosedo proves that when infrastructure investment is precisely aligned with local development needs, a free trade zone can transform from a concept into a tangible growth driver.Editor/Cheng Liting