VI Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley and Dominic Republic Vice Minister Hon. Olaya Dotel Caraballo. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Steps are being taken to diversify trade, including increasing relations with the Dominican Republic, to help mitigate the impact of global inflation on food prices locally. Photo: Internet Source

In a press release today, Thursday, February 27, 2025, it was announced that VI Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatly met with the DR’s Vice Minister of International Cooperation in the Ministry for Economy, Planning and Development Hon Olaya Dotel Caraballo in Chile, in the margins of regional meetings at the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). 

The VI and the DR both serve as Vice Chairs of UN ECLAC under the Chairmanship of Peru and will work together to support Peru and UN ECLAC on advancing the sustainable development and economic and social transformation of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Areas for collaboration explored

The two explored potential areas of collaboration, including regional transportation, shipping, trade and agriculture. Opportunities for development cooperation were also discussed.

They also highlighted the historical relationship between the VI and DR with longstanding family ties and areas of shared heritage.

Mr Wheatley said he was pleased that initial contact was made, delivering on the mandate given by Premier Dr Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley to begin outreach to the Territory’s Dominican partners as steps are taken to diversify trade to help mitigate the impact of global inflation on food prices locally.

“They agreed to follow up with their senior leadership on further steps in establishing an official dialogue between their Governments on economic cooperation, as well as the possibility of development cooperation, cultural exchange, and celebration of shared heritage,” he explained.