The Dominican Republic will host the pilot program, with the vision of expanding it to other countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Santo Domingo, June 1, 2026. – The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM) and The Trust for the Americas have announced an artificial intelligence (AI) advisory program that will train 50 Dominican small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over a seven-month period. The initiative will have nationwide reach and be delivered virtually, with support from the MiPymes Centers and Banco BHD.
The Trust for the Americas, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), selected the Dominican Republic as the pilot location due to its leadership in business development policies, the strength of its SME ecosystem, and its political commitment to modernizing the sector.
Yayo Sanz Lovatón, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs, stated: “SMEs account for the majority of formal employment in the Dominican Republic. This program comes at a time when AI adoption is no longer a competitive advantage but a survival requirement for the sector.”
Today, many SMEs across the region use AI tools but lack the knowledge to apply them effectively in their day-to-day operations. Businesses without training in emerging technologies face a growing risk of falling behind competitively. For this reason, the pilot will provide practical guidance to help each company adopt AI tools tailored to its specific needs.
“The success of this pilot will not be measured solely by how many companies adopt artificial intelligence, but by how many are able to grow, strengthen their operations, and compete in an increasingly digital economy. At The Trust for the Americas, we believe innovation only has value when it expands opportunities for more people, and this initiative represents a concrete step toward technology-driven economic inclusion in the region,” said Linda Eddleman, CEO of The Trust for the Americas.
Funding for the program comes from Banco BHD and other private-sector partners. Steven Puig, President of Banco BHD, stated: “Our institution serves more than 155,000 Dominican SMEs. This pilot represents a tangible opportunity to increase the productivity of participating businesses and enhance our country’s competitiveness.”
Este programa nació de una alianza multiactor construida desde la diplomacia. La Misión Permanente de la República Dominicana ante la OEA abrió el camino institucional para conectar al MICM con The Trust for the Americas. Sobre esa base, tres actores operativos harán posible el piloto: el MICM coordinará la selección de sectores prioritarios, los Centros MiPymes facilitarán las sesiones de demostración y capacitación con las empresas beneficiarias, y el Banco BHD aportará su experiencia en servicios de desarrollo empresarial no financiero, participará en la identificación de empresas, y apoyará la ejecución.
The program emerged from a multi-stakeholder partnership built through diplomacy. The Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the OAS created the institutional pathway to connect MICM with The Trust for the Americas. Building on that foundation, three operational partners will make the pilot possible: (1) MICM will coordinate the selection of priority sectors. (2) The MiPymes Centers will facilitate demonstration sessions and training activities for participating companies. (3) Banco BHD will contribute its expertise in non-financial business development services, participate in identifying participating companies, and support implementation.
This pilot serves as an example of how partnerships among governments, the private sector, and international organizations can be transformed into opportunities for people and businesses. Since its founding, The Trust for the Americas has worked to close economic inclusion gaps across the region through programs that have reached millions of entrepreneurs, young people, and vulnerable communities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Based on the results of this initiative in the Dominican Republic, the organization will evaluate how to replicate the model in other countries across the region, making AI a growth tool accessible to any Latin American SME.
About the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM):
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM) is the governing body responsible for public policies related to industrial, commercial, and business development in the Dominican Republic. Through its Vice Ministry for MSME Development, it promotes the formalization, competitiveness, and growth of Dominican micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
About The Trust for the Americas:
The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization that promotes social and economic inclusion by equipping individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the evolving world of work. As an affiliate of the Organization of American States (OAS), The Trust builds strategic partnerships with the public sector, private sector, academia, and civil society to expand opportunities throughout the region. With nearly 30 years of experience, the organization has impacted more than 6.3 million people in 29 countries, fostering economic opportunity and promoting innovation as a driver of progress across the Americas.