IMF assesses crisis management in DR and projects 4.6% growth for 2026

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) positively assessed the economic performance exhibited by the Dominican Republic during this 2026, despite global instability due to geopolitical conflicts, while highlighting the management the country is providing to the global situation with the approval of the Anti-Crisis Plan.

The weighting was presented in the presence of the Minister of Finance and Economy, Magín Díaz, during his participation in a high-level meeting of the organization alongside countries from the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department in Thailand, where ministers and central bank governors from Latin America and the Caribbean were present.

In this regard, those present highlighted the cumulative growth of 4.5% of the Dominican economy during January-September 2026.

Regarding the approval of Law 30-26 on Pro-Economic Growth Measures, Fiscal Simplification, and Mitigation of the International Crisis (Anti-Crisis Plan), they highlighted the support and incentive initiatives for companies and taxpayers contained in the legislation, as well as revenue-raising provisions to finance part of the increase in subsidies for the most vulnerable population.

The meeting was part of the agenda carried out by Minister Díaz at the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, held from October 12 to 18 in Bangkok, Thailand.

In that sense, the Minister of Finance and Economy emphasized the challenging conditions for managing economic policy in an environment of high interest rates, changes in tariff policy in the United States, and the challenge of rising prices for petroleum derivatives.

The minister highlighted, however, that the crisis provides an opportunity to gradually dismantle generalized subsidies that are regressive, as well as to improve the direct targeting of subsidies aimed at the most vulnerable groups.

He also pointed out that the crisis should not divert the country from its long-term goals, such as increasing productivity and streamlining permitting processes, to prevent a slowdown in private investment in key sectors of the economy.

IMF projections for DR

Within the framework of these meetings, the IMF released the World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, in which it projects a 4.6% growth in the gross domestic product of the Dominican Republic by the end of 2026.

This figure places the country above the average growth rate for Latin America, estimated by the organization at 2.3%, and makes it the second most dynamic economy in Central America, surpassed only by Panama, which maintains a projection of 5.0% this year.

Intense agenda in Thailand

During the IMF-WB Annual Meetings, Díaz completed a work agenda aimed at strengthening economic positioning, tightening ties with his counterparts, and reaffirming the confidence of multilateral organizations and international markets in the Dominican economy.

The agenda included the minister’s participation in the Ministerial Roundtable chaired by World Bank President Ajay Banga, “Accelerating implementation for more and better jobs: a ministerial dialogue”.

Díaz, who was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Public Credit, María José Martínez, held working meetings with Rodrigo Valdés and Juan Toro of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department; Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Susana Cordeiro, Vice President of the World Bank; and representatives of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to resume programs for strengthening tax control and oversight systems at the DGII.

He also held a round of bilateral meetings with executives from international investment banks and credit rating agencies, including Jefferies, Lazard, JP Morgan, S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s, Fitch Ratings, Scotiabank, SMBC Nikko Securities America, and Citibank, with whom they exchanged views on the country’s macroeconomic outlook and fiscal discipline.