Airport & Security Upgrade: Aerodom rolled out new tech at Las Americas International Airport, including ~US$2M in luggage scanners, tighter anti-theft measures, and a fully monitored passenger/visitor movement system (no facial recognition), plus a new terminal under construction and a QR-based parking payment rollout. Customs Enforcement: The DGA recovered RD$1.652B in undeclared taxes from 389 Asian importers in H1 2026 via risk-based controls and post-clearance audits, aiming to protect state revenue and level competition. Energy Sector Pressure: Guyana’s president cited InterEnergy’s grid recommendations after demand rose 18% (205MW in 2024 to 242.6MW in Aug 2026), underscoring the need for major investment to fix reliability issues. US-DR Trade Tension: The U.S. asked the DR to repeal Decree 693-24, which sets 20% rice tariffs within quota and 99% after quota, arguing it conflicts with CAFTA-DR market-access commitments. Tourism & Hospitality Investment: Hyatt’s Secrets Macao Beach Punta Cana is now taking reservations for April 1, 2027 openings, adding 406 suites and a large dining program. Retail & Foodservice Expansion: Carl’s Jr. opened its first Dominican Republic location at Galería 360 in Santo Domingo, operated locally by DATH under exclusive franchise rights. Aviation Diplomacy: CLAC and the Dominican Republic received an invitation to the Future Aviation Forum 2027 after talks with Egypt and Saudi Arabia on connectivity and technical cooperation. Regional Migration & Security: A UK minister met DR and Turks & Caicos leaders on economic growth, clean energy, regional security, and the impact of instability in Haiti. Sargassum Solutions: Grenada’s delegation trained in Punta Cana on sargassum containment, collection, and utilization systems with support from GIZ’s BioWaste Caribbean project. Business Growth & Jobs: Banreservas set aside RD$7B to finance productive sectors, while the DR welcomed a record 8.5M visitors through August 2026.