Dominican Republic Boosts Financial Inclusion, Digital Access in San Cristóbal

SAN CRISTÓBAL, Dominican Republic – The Dominican government completed its third initiative for financial inclusion and digital transformation in San Cristóbal province, providing millions in credit and technological training to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The event, held at Politécnico Loyola, was spearheaded by the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (Promipyme) and the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel). It aimed to expand access to credit, digital tools, and capacity building for local entrepreneurs.

Fabricio Gómez Mazara, Promipyme's director general, announced that RD 210 million in financing had been disbursed to 1,100 beneficiaries in San Cristóbal. He noted that 66% of these loans were granted to businesses led by women.

"Our mission is clear: to bring credit where people live and correct historical inequalities that have limited access to financing. Financial inclusion is a real path toward economic mobility," Gómez Mazara stated.

Gómez Mazara also highlighted Promipyme's record-breaking placement of RD 1.95 billion in loans over the past 45 days. This surge was fueled by institutional resources and emergency funds following Tropical Storm Melissa. He also mentioned programs like "Your Signature is Your Guarantee," which removes the need for co-signers, easing loan access for thousands of micro-entrepreneurs.

Guido Gómez Mazara, president of Indotel's Board of Directors, praised the initiative as a crucial step toward productive digitalization. "Technology democratizes opportunities. When a digital tool allows for increased sales, better training, or managing a service from a cell phone, we are talking about solutions that transform daily life," he said.

He added that the government's digital agenda seeks to close historical gaps that have hindered the competitiveness of countless families and small businesses. Guido Gómez Mazara emphasized that digital transformation gains meaning only when it impacts people's real lives.

"We are promoting policies that transform connectivity into a tool for social mobility. It's not just about internet access, but about access to opportunities: education, new skills, increased productivity, and better incomes. That is the true purpose of this initiative," he explained.

During the event, Guido Gómez Mazara announced that San Cristóbal would receive 5,000 scholarships from the "Soy Digital" program, an Indotel initiative developed with the World Bank to boost technological literacy across the Dominican population.

Fabricio Gómez Mazara reinforced the importance of digital skills, stating, "The highest level of employability in the Dominican Republic comes from technological training, and with over 5.4 million citizens working, it is essential to continue investing in digital training as a tool for development."

Senator Gustavo Lara Salazar of San Cristóbal delivered welcome remarks, thanking Promipyme and Indotel for bringing development through financial inclusion and digital training to the residents of his province.

The event featured testimonials from program beneficiaries and included a mobile Promipyme branch, which remained open for additional loan applications. This San Cristóbal stop marked the third stage of a joint strategy between Promipyme and Indotel to foster financial and digital inclusion in key regions nationwide.

The national rollout began on November 23, when President Luis Abinader led an inter-institutional intervention in District 3 of the National District. That event announced RD 150 million in credits for 630 micro-entrepreneurs, many of whom were affected by Tropical Storm Melissa.

Subsequently, on December 7, Vice President Raquel Peña led a joint Indotel and Promipyme initiative in Santo Domingo. She highlighted the government's vision to drive a development model based on innovation, connectivity, and access to credit. During that occasion, Promipyme announced the allocation of RD 231 million in loans to 864 micro-entrepreneurs.