Question:

We are an export company based in Miami, Fl. We export worldwide Clay Roof tiles and Cement.

Is it hard to access the market in D.R.?

Please advise.

Well, there are many many cement production companies here, so competition is well established. Check out CEMEX, Sinercon and Cemento Titan, those are the big ones.

In my opinion your biggest challenge is getting used to how things are done here.

thanks for the reply

I forgot to post their websites:

http://www.cemex.com.do/
http://www.titancemento.com/

Sinercon, If I'm not wrong, is part of the group that is developing the Cap Cana project, which as you may know, handle quite a lot of $$$.

actually, export, accessing any market in the DR is next to impossible. competition is not a part of the culture, which is why local products are not of the highest standards, and imported products are as expensive as they are. monopoly is the order of the day, sad to say, and any attempts to start a business will fill you with anguish and dismay.

Well... Sad to read this !!! But is all very true.

On the other hand, my advise is to ask yourself why would you want to come to Dominican Republic and do business. Casual drop ins are received with a brick wall...

It really also depends on what is your long term and short term agenda. If you have a dream of becoming rich overnight in the Dominican Republic, well you are dead on arrival. But if your plans have a long term vision, you must take ample time to know the island, know the customs and mostly develop genuine business relationships which will not happen overnight.

3 to 5 years is minimum to develop a stable business with all the red tape and difficulties you will find. Clay Roof may be just like any product a good product if is competitive. if you are the cheapest, you have a winner. if you are priced approximately for the same cost landed as the ones produced in country you will have a HARDER TIME to prove your point if in fact is any better than what the market already knows.

If you want to even try to do business in the Dominican Republic, you must have great commitment and determination and be realistic enough to understand it will take HARD WORK. Nothing comes easy in the Dominican Republic. But just like anything else... Everything is possible it just depends how much you want it.