The Dominican Port Authority (Apordom) and ITM Group Mexico have revealed that the construction of Cabo Rojo Port in Pedernales province will be finished by December this year. The primary goal of developing this port is to bring advantages to the southern region of the country and generate job opportunities for the Enriquillo area, encompassing Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia, and Bahoruco provinces.
Through a collaboration between the public and private sectors, the management of Cabo Rojo Port will be overseen jointly by the Dominican Port Authority (led by Jean Luis Rodríguez) and ITM Group (headed by Mauricio Hamui).
During a recent commission visit, the project manager Javier Fernandez (ITM Group's engineer) provided updates on the construction progress. The first cruise ship is scheduled to dock on December 14th.
The second stage of Port Cabo Rojo is set to be completed by mid-2024 and will include a pier dedicated to fishermen. The port is designed to handle up to one million cruise passengers annually, with estimates of creating over five thousand direct and indirect job opportunities, which will significantly boost the economy of the border region.
Cabo Rojo cruise port project's cost was estimated at ~RD$ 7,1 billion (Dominican pesos/~USD 126 million) and the entire money (a private investment) was provided via a loan from Banco Central de la Republica Dominicana (the country's Central Bank).
For the Dominican Port Authority, this project marks a significant milestone in the growth of cruise tourism, benefiting not only the Dominican Republic but also the entire Caribbean area. The Apordom delegation, led by Director of Engineering Juan Miguel de los Santos and Director of Operations Celestino Martinez, was joined by other government officials, including Sigmund Freund from the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP) and Minister Deligne Ascencion from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC).