The Americas Business Dialogue (ABD) held its 2025 Plenary Meeting on May 28–29 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, marking a strategic milestone on the road to the V CEO Summit of the Americas, which will take place on December 3–4 in Punta Cana. The gathering brought together over 100 business leaders and institutional representatives from 12 countries, reaffirming ABD’s role as a leading regional platform for building public policy recommendations from the private sector.
Over the course of two days, participants discussed and refined proposals across key areas for sustainable and competitive development in the hemisphere. From digitalization and trade facilitation to food security, tourism, and artificial intelligence, the discussions were technical, cross-cutting, and action-oriented.
One of the meeting’s major strengths was its multisectoral nature: representatives from multinational companies, business associations, chambers of commerce, and industry experts shared perspectives, identified synergies, and enriched the content of the white papers under development by ABD’s working groups and task forces. This collaboration was essential for advancing a high-impact Report for Heads of State with strong implementation potential and regional relevance.
The active participation of Dominican Republic authorities during the opening and closing sessions provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the host government of the upcoming CEO Summit of the Americas. Remarks from Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, Minister of Industry and Trade Ito Bisonó, and Minister of Energy and Mines Joel Santos highlighted the importance of public-private dialogue as a key tool for developing concrete solutions to drive economic growth.
Three key milestones from the plenary:
- Validation of shared priorities: The working groups reached consensus on recommendations that reflect the collective vision of the private sector for the coming years.
- Progress toward the Report for Heads of State: The guidelines were agreed upon to consolidate a concise, coherent, and action-oriented report to be presented to Heads of State during the V CEO Summit of the Americas in December.
- High level of representation: The participation of delegations from across the region and the active involvement of the Dominican business sector, led by the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), reinforced the regional character of the plenary, as well as the legitimacy of the collective process leading to the Summit.
The 2025 Plenary Meeting was far more than a space for dialogue: it was a moment of strategic construction. The in-depth discussions, exchange of experiences, and validation of proposals with the host country’s government further consolidated ABD’s position as a key player in driving a results-oriented business agenda for the Americas.
Next stop: Punta Cana
With eyes set on December, ABD members continue working to deliver a high-impact document that reflects the diverse priorities of the private sector. The Santo Domingo plenary made clear that the path to the CEO Summit is firmly established and advancing with renewed momentum.