Central Bank of the Dominican Republic meets Citi Bank and highlights foreign-currency inflows and banking sector solvency

The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic published an account of a meeting between Governor Héctor Valdez Albizu and a Citi Bank delegation led by Carolina Juan, Citi’s Head of Corporate Banking for Latin America, focused on the Dominican Republic’s economic outlook and foreign investment environment. The governor also pointed to the strength of Dominican financial institutions, citing capitalisation, profitability and digital development. Key indicators shared during the meeting included foreign-currency generation of around USD 43.8 billion in 2024, with a projection of about USD 45.9 billion for 2025. Remittances received in January–April 2025 totalled USD 3,917.4 million, up 12.1% year on year; 2024 tourism income was USD 10,972.4 million on 11.2 million visitors; and free-zone exports reached USD 8,425.9 million, led by medical and surgical equipment and tobacco manufacturing. Financial intermediation activity grew 9.6% year on year in January–April 2025, supported by 10.8% growth in private-sector credit in domestic and foreign currency, equivalent to an additional DOP 228 billion versus April 2024; the multiple banking sector recorded ROA of 2.8% and ROE of 24.9% at end-April 2025, and regulatory solvency of 16.0% as of February 2025 versus the 10% statutory minimum. Citi Bank indicated it plans to organise working meetings between international investors and Dominican authorities to help channel investment into different sectors.