The President Luis Abinader, accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, met with representatives of the Dominican diaspora in Italy and announced that, starting from January 2027, resources will be made available for the creation of a Dominican Culture House in the country. The head of state explained that the resources will be channeled through a donation from the Presidency to facilitate the rental of a location and its operation.
Dominican Culture in Italy
The initiative aims to promote artistic expressions, national traditions, and customs, as well as strengthen ties with the Dominican Republic, especially among children and young people born or raised abroad. During the conversation, representatives of the diaspora proposed developing folk groups, creating carnival costumes and Dominican instruments, organizing summer camps, and promoting activities to bring new generations closer to history and national symbols.
Support for the diaspora
Abinader expressed his willingness to evaluate the proposals and highlighted the importance of strengthening support for Dominicans abroad through the Institute of Dominicans and Dominican Women Abroad (INDEX). The participants also expressed concerns related to pensions for older adults, job opportunities, and communication between authorities and the Dominican community resident in Italy.
Contributions of the diaspora
The President highlighted the contributions of Dominicans living abroad to national economic development, particularly through the sending of remittances, which affect the balance of payments, consumption, and the construction sector. He also reported that the country projects to receive around 12.5 million visitors in 2026 and referred to the social and economic advances of the Dominican Republic, including poverty reduction and reduced levels of undernourishment.
The Dominican Ambassador in Italy, Rafael Antonio Lantigua, highlighted that President Luis Abinader has given special attention to the diaspora, valuing its proximity to the community and its willingness to listen to their needs. The activity allowed for the exchange of proposals to strengthen the relationship between the Government and the diaspora, as well as promote Dominican culture and identity in Italy.
Credits: robertocavada.com
Note generated automatically from the sources cited in the text. Found an error? Email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it.
