Santo Domingo.- GALA Media Group celebrated the most recent edition of Foros Business 2025, with which it concluded its cycle dedicated to governmental issues, within the framework of which the panel entitled “Governmental Management: Challenges, Objectives and Goals” was held, which brought together prominent authorities to reflect on the present and future of public administration in the Dominican Republic.
The forum was attended by José Ignacio Paliza, Minister of the Presidency; Carlos Bonilla, Minister of Housing and Buildings; Sigmund Freund, Minister of Public Administration; Ernesto Bournigal Read, Superintendent of the Securities Market; Hostos Rizik Lugo, General Director of RD Vial; and Colonel Randolfo Rijo Gómez, ERD, Executive Director of the National Emergency and Security System 911. The conference was moderated by journalist Roberto Cavada and the master of ceremonies was the communicator Luz García.
During the discussion, the panelists addressed advances, challenges, and proposals in key areas such as road infrastructure, housing, financial market, emergency response, modernization of the State, and digital transformation, highlighting the role of inter-institutional coordination in achieving common goals.
Words from the panelists
The Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, stated that “the Dominican economy has been one of the most resilient and fastest-growing in the region, with an average of more than 5% in the last 30 years and 14 of them above 6%”, while noting that this performance has strengthened the country’s fiscal capacities, although he acknowledged that “a major discussion that the country requires is to review its fiscal capacities, a topic that will be left for the future”.
From the Ministry of Public Administration, Sigmund Freund explained the scope of the new Integrated Civil Service System: “For the first time, the Dominican Republic will have a unified platform to manage the human resources of the entire public administration,” an initiative that will allow control of the payroll, avoid duplication and facilitate interoperability between State institutions.
Carlos Bonilla, Minister of Housing and Buildings, presented the achievements of the Mi Vivienda plan, highlighting that “in two years almost ten thousand homes have been built, far exceeding the initial goal”, in addition to more than 50 thousand repairs that have directly benefited some 200 thousand people. “They are stories that move and reflect the impact of public policy on people’s lives,” he expressed.
For his part, the executive director of the 911 System, Colonel Randolfo Rijo Gómez, ERD, stated that the emergency response service “is at its best, consolidating itself as a benchmark in the region.” He highlighted milestones such as the implementation of the AML (Advanced Mobile Location) system, the use of artificial intelligence for the efficient dispatch of units, the expansion of coverage that currently reaches 92.3% of the population, and the recent designation of the entity as the presidency of the Subsidiary Technical Group on Emergency and Security Services of the Organization of American States (OAS). “It is a model of State continuity that has evolved thanks to the government’s commitment to innovation, multisectoral coordination, and the strengthening of citizen security,” he indicated.
Hostos Rizik Lugo, director of RD Vial, highlighted that “the Dominican Republic has one of the highest quality road infrastructures in Central America and the Caribbean,” thanks to a strategic plan that has financed major works through the toll system. He mentioned projects such as the Baní bypass, the stages of Ecológica Avenue, the Enriquillo–Pedernales highway, and the expansion of the Duarte highway as part of the advances executed under the RD Vial trust.
In his speech, Ernesto Bournigal Read, Superintendent of the Securities Market, highlighted the role of the stock market as an investment channel for development: “Today the market has about 3 billion pesos in circulation, of which 18% corresponds to the private sector”, with investments in sectors such as renewable energy, tourism and road works. “The challenge now is for more citizens to open investment accounts and grow their wealth,” he pointed out.
About Business Forums
With this edition, Foros Business concludes its annual governmental cycle, consolidating itself as a reference platform for dialogue between the public sector, civil society, academia, and the business world. This initiative is part of the GALA Media Group ecosystem, whose objective is to promote quality informative content, encourage rigorous analysis, and strengthen the institutional culture in the Dominican Republic. *Throughout Foros Business 2025, five forums and 10 panels were held, with the participation of more than 40 ministers and general directors of governmental institutions.
