Santiago.– The Industrial Development and Competitiveness Center (Proindustria) inaugurated this Wednesday in Santiago the fifth edition of the Industrial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair (FIEI 2026), an event that brings together nearly 100 projects from different provinces of the country, with Japan as the guest nation, consolidating itself as one of the main showcases of young talent, technology and the transformation of the Dominican productive apparatus.
The fair will take place from March 25 to 27 in the Central Park of Santiago, with the participation of companies, entrepreneurs, universities, educational centers and public institutions, which present innovative proposals, technological advances and initiatives focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the national industry.
During the opening ceremony, the general director of Proindustria, Rafael “Papito” Cruz, defined the fair as a strategic space that connects academia, youth, and the business sector, and assured that the event already transcends the simple exhibition of ideas to become a real platform for promoting development.
“This fair precisely represents a space for articulation between academia, our youth, and the experience of the business community. Here, ideas, projects, and visions converge that can transform the future of our industry,” Cruz expressed.
The official highlighted that the nearly 100 projects present come from various provinces, which shows —according to what he stated— that innovation is not concentrated in a single region, but rather expands throughout the national territory.
Likewise, he maintained that the FIEI 2026 is already consolidating as a “national brand”, having Santiago de los Caballeros as its epicenter, a city that he described as a symbol of the productive and entrepreneurial drive of the Dominican Republic.
Cruz insisted that the great challenge for the State and the private sector is not only to identify talent, but also to support it, finance it and scale it up to turn it into concrete opportunities for economic development.
“It’s not enough to have talent; that talent must be accompanied, financed, walked, and scaled. That’s why this fair is not just an exhibition, it’s a platform for promotion, a laboratory of opportunities, and a bridge between innovation and the market,” he stated.
One of the most striking aspects of this fifth edition is the participation of Japan as a guest country, an element that strengthens the international profile of the fair and opens new opportunities for exchange in terms of innovation, technological development and industrial competitiveness.
In his speech, Cruz also valued the inclusion of the fashion industry within the event, considering that this sector represents a tool for social, productive, and human transformation for young people and entrepreneurs. Likewise, he highlighted the presence, for the first time, of the military industry and the Ministry of Defense, entities that exhibit advances linked to innovation and productive modernization.
“Intelligence, when combined with purpose, generates transformation,” he concluded.
Sanz Lovatón highlights continuity, transparency, and industrial strength of Cibao
During the inauguration, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, highlighted the continuity of the fair and recognized the management of Rafael Cruz at the head of Proindustria, noting that the initiative reflects a public administration focused on results, transparency and teamwork.
Sanz Lovatón stated that, on many occasions, changes in management in public institutions lead to a loss of momentum in important projects, but he assured that in this case it has been possible to keep a strategic initiative for the country alive.
“This activity demonstrates a management of public resources aligned with the vision of President Luis Abinader: transparency, teamwork, and the fight to achieve extraordinary things,” said the minister.
The official also emphasized the weight of Santiago and the Cibao region in the country’s industrial structure, indicating that more than 70% of the industrial fabric of the northern region is concentrated in this area, making it a key axis for national economic growth.
He also took the opportunity to highlight indicators that, in his opinion, reflect the good moment of the Dominican economy, including the fact that the country received for the first time more than 5,000 million dollars in foreign direct investment, as well as exports that exceeded 16,000 million dollars, and the presence of nearly 2,000 Dominican products in international markets under the national quality seal.
The Industrial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair has become one of the country’s most relevant stages for showcasing emerging projects, connecting young people with the business ecosystem, and projecting a more modern, inclusive, and competitive vision of the Dominican industry.
In the act participated the governor of the province of Santiago, Rosa Santos, the senator, Daniel Rivera, the mayor of Santiago, Ulises Rodríguez, the Japanese ambassador in the country and other national or local authorities.
