Japan to export metro railway tech to Dominican Republic

The Japanese Government is backing a bid from Japanese companies to export underground railway expertise and technology to the Dominican Republic for an underground railway system aimed to build a metro system.

The Dominican Republic will initiate the bidding process later this year. Today, representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will brief the government on the estimated costs, performance and other relevant information about the Japanese subway to fairly persuade the bid once it starts.

It has also been reported that METI will provide yen loans to encourage the purchase of Japanese railway cars.

The Dominican Republic intends to expand its current metro system, namely in the Capital of Sant Domingo. The project is estimated to cost upwards of $660 million.

Japanese railway technology is one of the most advanced in the world, namely with their magnetic propulsion system for acceleration allowing for smaller car bodies and lower installation costs when compared to the alternatives.

The Dominican Republic has previously collaborated with Germany’s Siemens and France’s Alstom, both of which are expected to compete in the bidding.

It has been speculated that Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi are front runners to bid for the project.

This bidding war also has the potential to signal geopolitical shifts and is likely to be monitored by nations across the globe.

China has developed a growing influence in the Latin American region, managing to garner goodwill and greater world influence.

This influence has crept its way up to the Dominican Republic, with the nation going as far as cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2018, recognizing the nation as an “inalienable part of Chinese territory”.

Some nations see this inception of Chinese influence in the region as a threat to the traditional dominance of the United States in the region, potentially undermining regional unity and the possibility of creating inescapable dependencies.

Japan’s geopolitical influence has been strategically limited to the Indo-Pacific, Territorial disputes with North Korea and China’s nuclear program are still a major security concern for the nation, this is a crucial reason for Japan developing closer ties with the United States.

Japan’s involvement in the bid for this project is not only for economic benefits but also as a strategic move to strengthen their ties with the US; allowing the nation to slowly garner soft power in the region, acting as a counterbalance to the influence gained by China’s Belt and Road initiative.

Japan's railway projects offer a unique tool for geopolitical influence. While challenges exist, they create opportunities to promote economic development, build partnerships, and solidify its position as a reliable and responsible partner in the region.