Biography
He was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He holds a law degree from APEC University and has studied in the United States at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He also holds a postgraduate degree in foreign trade from the University of San Diego, which he has taught partially in Russia and Poland, in collaboration with the universities of Moscow, Warsaw, and Krakow.
Ambassador Rivera has specialized in various areas of international trade through various degrees, including: Global Trade Regulation from the University of Warsaw in Poland; International Trade Negotiations and International Trade Dispute Settlement; and Unfair Trade Practices and Safeguard Measures; Dumping, Subsidies, and Implications, the latter two with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Additionally, he has participated in special programs such as the Distinguished Visitors Program from the United States of America and the Global Economy offered by the Department of State (2002) and the Economic Development Program of Taiwan (2003).
His work experience is extensive, having served as Deputy Minister of State for Industry and Commerce and Head of Foreign Trade (2000-2004); as well as national coordinator and chief negotiator of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA); and for the implementation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Central American agreements.
As Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce, he served as director of the technical teams of the Special Office for the negotiations of the Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), successfully concluding those negotiations in 2004, among other positions. He was also a member of the Dominican delegation to the Dominican Republic-United States Trade and Investment Council (2002-2004). He also served as national coordinator of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce's Foreign Trade Training Plan (2000-2004).
During this period, he participated in the redesign of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the creation of the Directorate of Foreign Trade (DICOEX). Additionally, by delegation of the Minister, he chaired the National Council of Free Trade Zones and the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center, currently Pro Dominicana.
In 2004, he was awarded the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez y Mella, Grand Cross, Silver Plate, a distinction bestowed upon him by the Dominican government for his services as a public official.
He has distinguished himself as a professor of Commercial Law, Comparative Law, Public International Law, International Treaties, and International Economic Policy at various universities such as the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), UNIBE, PUCMM, APEC University, and the OMG Institute.
He has published articles on foreign trade and investment in national and international media. He also served as commercial editor for the Puerto Rican business newspaper MerKdos and as a columnist for Emprendedores magazine.
Between 2004 and 2016, he worked in the private sector as Technical Coordinator of the Business Coalition in Support of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (DR-CAFTA) (2004-2006); and under his authority, he has worked in various international trade consultancies, including the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM); ADOZONA (2005-2006), a consultant for the Dominican Republic Industries Association (AIRD), and an advisor to the ASE-CAFTA program team at Banco BHD (2005-2009); Consultant for the United States Agency for International Development, USAID through the Chemonics program, Consultant for the Dominican-Canadian Chamber on matters related to Trade with Canada, International Trade Advisor to the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Association of American States (OAS), the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (2007-2009), Advisor to the Corripio business group, and advisor to multinational companies on corporate governance, internationalization and tax planning, for Procter and Gamble, Orange Telefónica, Cervecería Nacional Dominicana, Dos Pinos, Codetel and PepsiCo International, among others.
From 2016 to 2020, he served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation and Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Trade Negotiations (CNNC). This appointment was reaffirmed on August 16, 2020, marking the beginning of his second term at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During this period, he has received various recognitions, such as the "Outstanding Official" award for 2019 from the Dominican Exporters Association for his extraordinary work and ongoing support to the Dominican Republic's export sector, and from the Canadian Embassy in the country for his efforts in strengthening Dominican-Canadian relations in 2020.
