India Dominican Republic Relations: Trade, Agreements, Recent Developments - UPSC Notes

Relations between India and Dominican Republic highlight their commitment to joint development and regional peace. Situated in the Caribbean / Americas, Dominican Republic plays a key role in international geopolitics and security. Diplomatic relations between India and Dominican Republic were formalized in 1999, laying the foundation for a strong bilateral relationship. India and Dominican Republic share a Resident Embassy in Santo Domingo (India), DR Embassy in New Delhi, each having an embassy in the others capital, fostering strong bilateral ties. The Growing Caribbean partner, gateway to Central America of India and Dominican Republic cooperation includes mutual defense interests, economic partnerships, cultural engagement, and joint actions on global security issues. 

• India and Dominican Republic work together in Trade, pharmaceuticals, IT, culture, education, renewable energy such as defense, nuclear energy, trade, space exploration, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• India and Dominican Republic have forged important partnerships through agreements in Agreement on Gainful Occupation for Spouses of Diplomats (2016), MoU on establishment of Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) (2022) to foster greater cooperation. 
• India and Dominican Republic recorded a trade value of USD 101 billion (2022-23), marking a significant boost in bilateral trade. 
• India exports Pharmaceuticals, vehicles, textiles, chemicals, engineering goods to Dominican Republic as part of their growing trade partnership and long-standing economic cooperation. 
• India’s imports from Dominican Republic largely consist of Gold, iron & steel, medical instruments, tobacco, showing consistent trade flows. 

India’s engagement with Dominican Republic in ITEC training, scholarships, IT Centre of Excellence supports digital transformation and academic excellence. Focused on India Dominican Republic Relations, this article explores Strategic Summits, Diaspora Remittances, and Import-Export Trends to assist candidates in enhancing their GS Paper 2 and PSIR notes. 

India Dominican Republic Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

India’s first interactions with Dominican Republic were through Diplomatic relations established, Joint Economic Committee formed, paving the way for future cooperation. Past visits by national leaders, including DR Foreign Ministers to India, Indian MoS visits, played a key role in fostering India–Dominican Republic cooperation. 

• The relationship between India and Dominican Republic has evolved through distinct phases such as Gradual development, recent strengthening of ties.

India Dominican Republic Relations - Establishment of Diplomatic Ties
Initial Engagements	Diplomatic relations established, Joint Economic Committee formed
High-Level Visits (Historic)	DR Foreign Ministers to India, Indian MoS visits
Past Conflicts or Tensions	N/A
Phases of Engagement	Gradual development, recent strengthening of ties

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of India Dominican Republic Relations

Indias ties with Dominican Republic are of Growing Caribbean partner, gateway to Central America, often involving defense cooperation, economic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and shared global security objectives. 

• Limited, potential for training exchanges strengthens India’s security and fosters peace through military drills and strategic agreements with Dominican Republic. 
• Cooperation within multilateral frameworks allows India to partner with Dominican Republic in tracking and preventing terrorist activities across borders. 
• IT Centre of Excellence, capacity building between India and Dominican Republic fosters digital innovation, supports tech exchange, and enhances cybersecurity collaboration. 
• In order to foster peace and development, India and Dominican Republic engage together in UN, WTO, SICA (Dominican Republic), CELAC. 
• India and Dominican Republic enhance Interest in renewable energy, solar projects through mutual investments in energy infrastructure, clean technologies, and green initiatives. 
• No DTAA in force, discussions held between India and Dominican Republic play a crucial role in easing tax-related barriers for businesses and investors.

Strategic & Political Cooperation of India Dominican Republic Relations
Strategic Importance	Growing Caribbean partner, gateway to Central America
Defense Cooperation	Limited, potential for training exchanges
Counter-terrorism / Intelligence	Cooperation within multilateral frameworks
Cyber-security & Tech Sharing	IT Centre of Excellence, capacity building
Multilateral Groupings	UN, WTO, SICA (Dominican Republic), CELAC
Energy Cooperation	Interest in renewable energy, solar projects
Space Cooperation	N/A
Tourism & Air-Services Agreements	N/A
Taxation Agreements	No DTAA in force, discussions held

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Trade and Economic Overview of India Dominican Republic Relations

• India and Dominican Republic have signed a series of agreements in fields like Agreement on Gainful Occupation for Spouses of Diplomats (2016), MoU on establishment of Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) (2022) to bolster mutual cooperation. 
• India and Dominican Republic have reached a trade volume of USD 101 billion (2022-23), highlighting the deepening of their economic ties. 
• Investment flows comprise Indian investments in pharma, IT, DR in tourism, supported by notable partnerships and co-investments between India and its trade counterpart. 
• Regular platforms like India-DR Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), often taking place every year or two, are held to boost and evaluate trade and investment relations. 
• The recorded export volume from Dominican Republic to India is Approx USD 36708 million (2022-23, largely gold). 
• Pharmaceuticals, vehicles, textiles, chemicals, engineering goods make up a major portion of India’s exports to Dominican Republic, underlining a robust trade framework. 

According to bilateral data, Dominican Republic imported Approx USD 47274 million (2022-23) worth of goods from India. Indian businesses active in Dominican Republic include Pharmaceutical companies, IT firms, some manufacturing, spanning manufacturing, IT, and services.

Trade and Economic Overview of India Dominican Republic Relations
Bilateral Trade Volume (Latest FY)	USD 101 billion (2022-23)
Top Indian Exports to Partner	Pharmaceuticals, vehicles, textiles, chemicals, engineering goods
Top Indian Imports from Partner	Gold, iron & steel, medical instruments, tobacco
Key Bilateral Agreements	Agreement on Gainful Occupation for Spouses of Diplomats (2016), MoU on establishment of Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) (2022)
Investment Flows (FDI both ways)	Indian investments in pharma, IT, DR in tourism
Joint Economic Commissions / Dialogues	India-DR Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO)
Lines of Credit	N/A
Export to India (In $)	Approx USD 36708 million (2022-23, largely gold)
Import from India (In $)	Approx USD 47274 million (2022-23)
Indian Companies Operating There	Pharmaceutical companies, IT firms, some manufacturing

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

The vibrant diaspora of India and Dominican Republic plays a pivotal role in strengthening Business promotion, cultural links. India and its partner country connect through Yoga promotion, Indian film festivals, cultural troupes that help people understand each other’s culture and lifestyle. India is helping to improve education links with its partner country by doing things like ITEC scholarships, IT Centre of Excellence. 

• Dominican Republic, primarily consisting of students and professionals, enhances cultural, educational, and economic connections, with numbers around Small, mainly professionals and business community, Estimated around 2,000-3,000 individuals. 
• By harnessing Development assistance, cultural diplomacy, ITEC program, India and Dominican Republic seek to reinforce their strategic strength and broaden their global influence.
• Strong diplomatic and economic ties exist between India and Dominican Republic, with Data not readily available being a key factor in their economic success.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement
Indian Diaspora	Small, mainly professionals and business community, Estimated around 2,000-3,000 individuals
Diaspora Remittances	Data not readily available
Role of Diaspora	Business promotion, cultural links
Cultural Exchanges	Yoga promotion, Indian film festivals, cultural troupes
Education Cooperation	ITEC scholarships, IT Centre of Excellence
Hard Power & Soft Power Instruments	Development assistance, cultural diplomacy, ITEC program

India Dominican Republic Relations Recent Developments

EAM Dr S Jaishankar (2023) have played a vital role in deepening diplomatic engagement between India and Dominican Republic. The scope of MoU on establishment of Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) illustrates a continued focus on critical sectors such as health, mobility, and renewable energy. 

• A range of developmental activities fall under IT Centre of Excellence operational, highlighting shared goals. 
• Strategic cooperation is sometimes hindered by challenges like Language barrier, direct connectivity, awareness of opportunities. 
• The bilateral agenda includes advancing Expanding trade in pharma, IT, renewable energy_cooperation across innovation, trade, and diplomacy.

India Dominican Republic Relations Recent Developments & Future Outlook
Recent High-Level Visits	EAM Dr S Jaishankar (2023)
Recent Agreements Signed	MoU on establishment of Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO)
Ongoing Projects	IT Centre of Excellence operational
Challenges / Issues	Language barrier, direct connectivity, awareness of opportunities
Future Prospects	Expanding trade in pharma, IT, renewable energy_cooperation

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UPSC Relevance of India Dominican Republic Relations

• UPSC Prelims often asks about MoUs, recent diplomatic events, and bilateral cooperation, making this topic high-yield.
• Interlinking bilateral ties with India’s strategic autonomy or multilateral engagement adds depth to GS answers.
• Examples from the relationship highlight themes like ethical leadership, peaceful conflict resolution, or value-based foreign policy.
• International relations within Public Administration or Law optional papers can cite treaties, agreements, or global governance themes from this relationship.

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