Abinader announced funds for a House of Dominican Culture in Italy during a meeting with the diaspora

The Dominican community in Italy will take part in choosing the premises where the institutional space will operate. (Photo courtesy of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic)The president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, took advantage of his visit to Italy to meet with members of the diaspora and announce the allocation of resources to create a House of Dominican Culture. The project envisions a space dedicated to cultural activities and to connecting residents of that country with their national roots. The president took part in the meeting alongside First Lady Raquel Arbaje and heard proposals from representatives of the Dominican community in Rome. The meeting allowed for an exchange of ideas to strengthen the relationship between the government and citizens living abroad, as well as to promote Dominican culture and identity among the new generations. Abinader reported that the funds will be available starting in January 2027. The Presidency will make a donation to facilitate the rental of a premises and cover part of its operation. The Dominican ambassador to Italy, Rafael Antonio Lantigua, will be in charge of coordinating the preparations. The Presidency will release the funds for the cultural center starting in January 2027 under the coordination of Ambassador Rafael Antonio Lantigua. (Photo courtesy of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic)The government expects diaspora representatives to participate in choosing the location where the future House of Dominican Culture will operate. The initiative aims to become a meeting point for artistic expressions, traditions, and customs of the Dominican Republic. The proposal is aimed especially at Dominican children and young people who were born or grew up in Italy. The goal is to bring them closer to the country's history, its national symbols, and the expressions that identify the Dominican community. During the dialogue, participants proposed forming folkloric groups and making carnival costumes and traditional instruments. They also suggested holding summer camps and other activities to keep the new generations in touch with their families' culture. The meeting included requests related to support for entrepreneurs and employment opportunities for Dominican professionals in Italy. One of the topics was the recognition of academic degrees to facilitate the validation of studies completed in the Dominican Republic. President Luis Abinader announced in Italy the allocation of resources to create the House of Dominican Culture. (Photo courtesy of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic)Community representatives also raised concerns about pensions for the elderly, job opportunities, and channels of communication with Dominican authorities. Abinader said he will evaluate the proposals presented during the meeting. The president noted that state support for citizens abroad should be strengthened through the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (Index). That agency's functions include coordinating policies and services for Dominicans residing outside the national territory. Abinader also highlighted the diaspora's economic contribution through remittances. According to him, these transfers have effects on the balance of payments, domestic consumption, and construction activity in the Dominican Republic. In his remarks, the president stated that the country expects to receive around 12.5 million visitors during 2026. He also mentioned indicators related to the reduction of poverty and undernourishment. The president affirmed that the Dominican Republic has left the Hunger Map of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to the data cited during the meeting, undernourishment fell from 8.7% in 2020 to less than 2.5%.