Nearshoring in the Dominican Republic: The Strategic Advantage
Assess facilities, logistics, incentives and establishment requirements for a manufacturing operation in Navarrete, Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Why nearshore to the Dominican Republic
The End of the Transpacific Bottleneck
Global supply chain volatility requires a shift from cost arbitrage to operational certainty. The Dominican Republic is the premier nearshoring destination for U.S. manufacturers seeking rapid market access and redundancy outside of Asia and Mexico.
Why Parque Zona Franca Navarrete (PIZFN)?
- Speed to Market: Days of transit time to U.S. East Coast ports (via Caucedo and Puerto Plata), eliminating months of ocean freight delays.
- Labor Scalability: Access to a deep pool of trainable, cost-effective industrial talent. Labor availability is our strongest asset.
- Regulatory Protection: Operate under the DR’s proven Free Trade Zone regime (Law 8-90), securing 100% exemption on national and municipal taxes, import duties, and dividend taxes.
- Ready Infrastructure: Plug-and-play facilities designed for rapid deployment.
Northern Dominican Republic, one mile from the DR-1 highway
Parque Industrial Zona Franca Navarrete is in Navarrete, Villa Bisonó municipality, Santiago province — the industrial heart of the Cibao region. The DR-1 highway links the park to the Puerto Plata seaport and to Santiago’s Cibao International Airport (STI); Manzanillo and Caucedo ports are also part of most tenants’ logistics plans.
Confirm routes, cargo services, schedules and transit times with your logistics operators before finalizing your plan.
Dominican Republic free zone incentives
PIZFN operates under the Dominican Republic’s free zone regime (Law 8-90), administered by the Consejo Nacional de Zonas Francas de Exportación (CNZFE). Companies established in the park under this regime may qualify for:
100% income tax exemption
Corporate income tax exemption on free-zone operations.
Duty-free imports
Exemption from import duties and tariffs on raw materials, machinery, equipment and construction materials used in the operation.
ITBIS (VAT) exemption
Exemption from ITBIS on qualifying purchases and imports.
No export taxes
Exemption from export and re-export taxes on products made in the zone.
Municipal and corporate exemptions
Exemption from municipal taxes and from taxes on company formation, capital increases and related real-estate transfers.
Renewable term and free repatriation
Benefits are granted for an initial term of 15 years, renewable, with free repatriation of profits.
Preferential market access
The Dominican Republic is a party to DR-CAFTA (United States and Central America) and to the CARIFORUM–EU Economic Partnership Agreement, giving qualifying exports preferential access to the U.S. and European markets.
Eligibility, scope and terms of the regime are determined by CNZFE and must be confirmed for each company and activity with the authorities and your advisers.
Start with your production requirements
A location decision begins with the manufacturing process. Share production and storage areas, material flows, electrical demand, water consumption and staffing needs. These requirements determine building suitability and project adaptations.
| Topic | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Space | Leaseable area, clear height, floor loading and circulation. |
| Power | Peak demand, voltage, connection, backup and responsibilities. |
| Water and effluent | Flow, required quality, treatment and process-specific limits. |
| Workforce | Roles, shifts, recruitment and training requirements. |
| Logistics | Truck access, loading/unloading, storage and dispatch. |
Your assessment and establishment process
- Share your projectDefine activity, area, utilities and target date.
- Assess optionsReview an existing building or the scope of a tailored facility.
- Coordinate technical reviewIdentify adaptations, approval requirements and responsibilities.
- Agree proposal and scheduleDocument scope, commercial terms and milestones.
- Prepare installation and startupCoordinate equipment, staffing and services under the project agreement.
Local support and next steps
PIZFN provides an on-site customs office, recruitment support, INFOTEP training and operational coordination. Eligibility for the free zone regime, authorizations and benefits is reviewed for each company and activity with the relevant authorities and advisers.
Everything an operation needs, inside the perimeter
Customs office on site
A customs office inside the park supports import and export clearance for tenant companies.
Recruitment and INFOTEP training
Recruitment support and technical training coordinated with INFOTEP, the national vocational training institute.
Power and solar generation
18 MW of power capacity, including 3 MW supplied by on-site solar. Capacity allocated to each operation is confirmed in a technical assessment.
Water treatment
Treatment capacity of 800 m³/hour supports water-intensive processes, with effluent conditions confirmed per project.
Security and connectivity
24/7 security and fiber-optic connectivity, with technical provision confirmed for each building.
Logistics infrastructure
Container parking and industrial roads inside the campus; loading access is confirmed building by building.
Continue exploring
Discuss your manufacturing project
Share your required area, manufacturing activity and target start date so we can assess suitable options and send a proposal.