The international fragrance market presents a significant export opportunity for the Dominican Republic, a prospect being promoted by the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (ProDominicana) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). They recently organized a conference titled “The Frontier of Creativity and Export: Opportunities in the Global Market for Fragrance Development,” featuring Haruna Sema, a Japanese fragrance expert who previously designed scents for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sema conducted a master class on utilizing the Dominican Republic’s natural resources for fragrance creation.
Carolina Pérez, ProDominicana’s Market Intelligence Department director, highlighted the services available to exporting companies and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which include access to essential tools for international market entry, commercial alerts, and information on foreign direct investment opportunities.
From 2020 to September 2024, the Dominican Republic exported over RD$1,300 million in fragrances and aromatic essences to 45 markets, with more than 300 exporters involved. In 2023 alone, exports reached a historic high of US$6.7 million, reflecting a 56% increase compared to 2022. Haruna Sema noted that the country has abundant herbs and plants that can be used to extract essential oils for creating unique Dominican fragrances, thereby enhancing competitiveness and economic diversification. JICA’s resident representative, Kota Sakaguchi, explained that Sema’s visit is part of the “Artists in Project” program, which aims to bring artists to the country to foster cooperation and support productivity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.