Héctor Valdez Albizu
Governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic

He was born in Santo Domingo de Guzmán, Dominican Republic, on November 10th, 1947. He is married to Fior D’Aliza Martínez de Valdez and they have a son, Héctor Manuel.

He received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1971 at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. He did graduate work at the Institute of Social Studies, Catholic University of Chile, Student Movements Relations Organization, Chile (Social Aspects of Economic Development, Latin American University Reforms, Landholding and the Agrarian Reform, l966-l967); International Monetary Fund Institute of Specialized Studies, Washington, D.C. (Specialist in Monetary Policy, Public Finance and Design of Monetary and Financial Programs, l974-l977); Organization of American States - Central Bank and Advanced Studies Investigation Center, Dominican Republic (Capital Markets, l975); Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (Interpretation of Financial Statements Analysis, l977; Balance of Payments, l987; Project Analysis, Preparation and Evaluation, l988; National Accounts- Analysis and Preparation, l989).

He began his career at the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic in 1970, as Technical Assistant in the Economic Research Department, occupying the position of Director of that Department from 1984 through 1986; Assistant Manager, Monetary and Exchange Policy, l986-l990; Advisor to the Monetary Board, l987-l989; Representative of the Central Bank before the Administrative Board of the Banco de Reservas (state commercial bank), l991-l992; Assistant General Manager, l991-l993. On January 4, 1993 he was designated General Administrator of the Banco de Reservas, a position he occupied until August 31, 1994, when he was designated Governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, He was reconfirmed in that position in August 1996 by President Leonel Fernández Reyna, and was granted the rank of Cabinet Minister, occupying that position until August 16, 2000. Again, on August 16, 2004, the Constitutional President of the Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, appointed him Governor of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.

As a governor of the Central Bank, he has been Titular Member of numerous commissions established by Executive Order.

During his outstanding career as an economist he has worked on numerous research projects, among which are: "Study of the Parallel Exchange Market", "Investment Alternatives in Financial Activities", "Importance of the Financial Market on the Exchange System", "Financial Programs for the Dominican Republic, l976-l990"; "Dimensions of the National Banking System and its Enhancement Possibilities", l976; "Exchange Emergency Regime", l985; "Reform of the Financial System, a Proposal", l985.

On behalf of the Central Bank, he has participated in various international meetings. Among the most important are the meetings of Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), of the Monetary and Financial Affairs Board (CFM), of Latin America Central Banks Governors' meetings held in Canada, Spain and Philippines; the Inter-American Development Bank Governors' Assemblies and the Inter-American Investment Corporation, Dominican Republic, l992; the foreign debt renegotiations with commercial banks, l992 and with the member governments of the Paris Club, l992 and l993; Working lunch with the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, l994; Signatory to the Constituent Agreement for the Multilateral Investment Guaranty Agency (MIGA), Washington, 1995; XXXV Meeting of Central Bank Governors of the American Continent, CEMLA/ALADI, Hong Kong, 1997.

In 1996 he published Un camino hacia el desarrollo (A Road toward Development), Conferences and Addresses, and, in 2000, Un camino hacia el desarrollo II.

He has been awarded the Public Servant Medal of Merit, Dominican Republic, 1996; the Gaucho Rioplatense award, Dirigencia Magazine, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1996; Economist of the Year 1997, Dominican Association of Economists (CODECO); Distinguished Visitor by the City of Barahona, Municipal Government of Barahona, 1998; Banker of the Year 1998, Listín Diario Newspaper, 1998; Boss of the Year, Dominican Association of Secretaries, 1999; 500 Personalities of the Financial World, Who’s Who, U.S.A., 1999.

He has taught at the Universidad Central del Este, l975-l977 and at the Instituto de Estudios Superiores (APEC), l978-l989.

He is a member of the Dominican Association of Economists.