German-Dominican Chamber elects new board and marks a milestone with its first female president

The Dominican-German Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (CCDA) held its Annual General Assembly on March 10th, during which the new Board of Directors that will lead the institution in the 2026–2028 period was elected. The election marks a milestone in the history of the organization with the appointment of Eileen Jiménez Cantisano as president, becoming the first woman to assume this position since the Chamber’s founding.

Jiménez Cantisano, a partner at the law firm Headrick Rizik Álvarez y Fernández, assumes the presidency with the commitment to continue strengthening economic cooperation between the Dominican Republic and Germany, as well as to promote new investment, trade, and innovation opportunities between both countries.

During her inaugural speech, the new president highlighted the Chamber’s role as a platform to foster business exchange and promote a reliable and competitive business environment.
“We want the Chamber to continue to consolidate as a reliable platform to attract investment, open markets and strengthen the legal security of the exchange between the Dominican Republic and Germany,” said Jiménez.

Likewise, it was pointed out that its management will prioritize the promotion of strategic sectors such as free zones, renewable energy, tourism, technology and exportable services, promoting productive linkages, innovation and knowledge transfer between Dominican and German companies.

During the assembly, the reports corresponding to the 2024–2026 management, presented by the outgoing president Karsten Paul Windeler, were also presented, who highlighted the institutional advances achieved and the strengthening of the Chamber’s business network.

The Board of Directors is completed by Eric Lembke, vice president; Paola Valdez, secretary; Rafael Romero, treasurer; Karsten Paul Windeler, past president; and as members Fabio Guzmán-Saladín, Pablo Viñas Guzmán, Maité Mallén Calac, Carla Frías, Joerg Aldinger and Franquiz Caraballo Muñoz.

The activity was attended by Maike Friedrichsen, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Dominican Republic; Moritz Jacobshagen, deputy head of the German diplomatic mission; and Daniel Bernbeck, general manager of the German Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Central America and the Caribbean (AHK ZAKK).

Founded in 1994, the Dominican-German Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism is part of the global network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) and promotes the development of trade, investment and business cooperation between Germany and the Dominican Republic.