Month: June 2026

New Oxford Economics research highlights the role of the Port of Caucedo in strengthening connectivity, boosting exports, and positioning the Dominican Republic as a leading trade hub in the Americas

Trade growth depends on more than geography. It requires infrastructure, connectivity, and logistics networks that enable businesses to move goods efficiently and reliably across global markets.

In the Dominican Republic, those elements are converging around DP World’s integrated logistics ecosystem at the Port of Caucedo.

Located near Santo Domingo, Caucedo has become one of the Caribbean’s most important trade gateways, connecting the Dominican Republic to major markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, and beyond. Today, the port handles over 60% of the country’s containerized trade, and serves as a critical node in regional supply chains.

Connectivity Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage

As global supply chains become more complex, connectivity is increasingly determining which economies can attract investment, expand exports, and compete internationally.

DP World’s integrated model combines marine terminal operations, logistics services, warehousing, customs capabilities, and multimodal transportation solutions into a single ecosystem. This approach helps businesses reduce friction across supply chains while improving speed, reliability, and market access.

For Dominican importers and exporters, that connectivity translates into greater resilience and fewer disruptions — advantages that have become increasingly important amid global trade volatility.

The Economic Impact Is Already Significant

According to the Oxford Economics research, DP World’s operations at Caucedo supported approximately US$269 million in economic activity in 2024, while facilitating US$13.3 billion in total trade value through the port.

The research underscores the growing importance of logistics infrastructure as an economic enabler, particularly in countries seeking to strengthen their position within global supply chains.

For the Ozama Region, where the terminal is located, the port’s activity contributes meaningfully to regional economic output and supports a broad network of businesses that depend on reliable trade flows.

Unlocking Future Export Growth

The long-term opportunity may be even greater.

Oxford Economics estimates that improvements in maritime connectivity associated with Caucedo could increase Dominican goods exports by 9.5% by 2035, equivalent to approximately USD 2.4 billion in additional annual exports.

These gains are expected to come from:

• Improved access to international markets
• Greater supply chain reliability
• Increased productivity for Dominican businesses
• Enhanced attractiveness for manufacturers and nearshoring investments

The findings reinforce a broader trend shaping global trade: logistics infrastructure is no longer simply a support function — it is becoming a strategic economic asset.

Building the Next Phase of Growth

DP World is continuing to invest in the Dominican Republic’s future through a landmark expansion of the Port of Caucedo and its adjacent Free Trade Zone, announced in partnership with the Dominican government. The project is expected to attract billions in foreign investment and further strengthen the country’s role as a manufacturing, logistics, and nearshoring hub for the Americas.

As supply chains evolve and businesses seek more resilient trade routes, integrated logistics ecosystems like Caucedo will play an increasingly important role in connecting economies to opportunity.

For the Dominican Republic, the message is clear: investments in trade infrastructure are helping create a stronger foundation for long-term economic growth.

Learn more about the DP World Effect in the Dominican Republic

In this bonus episode, host Keith Knoke from Antea Group USA is joined by Alizabeth Smith to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of risk management: organisational culture. Together they discuss practical examples of how organisations can strengthen safety culture, improve employee engagement, and create systems that reinforce risk awareness across global operations.

Listen now

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Time Stamps

• 00:00:00 – Introduction to cultural risk management
• 00:00:33 – Case study: when strong systems still failed
• 00:01:25 – Identifying cultural breakdowns and lack of trust
• 00:02:46 – Communication silos in large organisations
• 00:03:55 – Building a global risk register and consistent controls
• 00:05:00 – Why onboarding and training often fall short
• 00:06:09 – Wearables, micro-training, and new approaches to engagement
• 00:07:27 – Executive incentives and unintended reporting behaviours
• 00:09:39 – Leading indicators versus lagging indicators
• 00:11:44 – Case study: transforming culture in a global manufacturing company
• 00:15:04 – Developing future EHS leadership internally
• 00:15:51 – Closing reflections

Guest Quotes

Alizabeth Smith:
“The risk they hadn’t controlled, the risk they hadn’t looked at, was cultural.”

Alizabeth Smith:
“If you don’t deal with communication and consistency, people start believing the program will change in six months anyway.”

All Podcast Episodes

In this bonus episode, host Keith Knoke from Antea Group USA is joined by Alizabeth Smith to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of risk management: organisational culture. Together they discuss practical examples of how organisations can strengthen safety culture, improve employee engagement, and create systems that reinforce risk awareness across global operations.

Listen now

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Time Stamps

• 00:00:00 – Introduction to cultural risk management
• 00:00:33 – Case study: when strong systems still failed
• 00:01:25 – Identifying cultural breakdowns and lack of trust
• 00:02:46 – Communication silos in large organisations
• 00:03:55 – Building a global risk register and consistent controls
• 00:05:00 – Why onboarding and training often fall short
• 00:06:09 – Wearables, micro-training, and new approaches to engagement
• 00:07:27 – Executive incentives and unintended reporting behaviours
• 00:09:39 – Leading indicators versus lagging indicators
• 00:11:44 – Case study: transforming culture in a global manufacturing company
• 00:15:04 – Developing future EHS leadership internally
• 00:15:51 – Closing reflections

Guest Quotes

Alizabeth Smith:
“The risk they hadn’t controlled, the risk they hadn’t looked at, was cultural.”

Alizabeth Smith:
“If you don’t deal with communication and consistency, people start believing the program will change in six months anyway.”

All Podcast Episodes

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 9, 2026 – The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), today announced its Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains – All Minerals (All Minerals Standard) has achieved full recognition under the London Metal Exchange (LME) Responsible Sourcing Framework, fully meeting LME Track A requirements for both the standard and its implementation.

The LME is the world’s largest industrial metal exchange. The majority of all non-ferrous metals futures business is transacted on the LME platform. Last year, 191 million lots were traded, equating to $21 trillion and 4 billion tonnes notional, with a market open interest high of 2.1 million lots.

This full recognition by LME marks an important milestone for the RMI, with all RMI standards now independently assessed as fully OECD-aligned and achieving regulatory recognition under the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation or market recognition by the LME. The RMI’s recognized standards support due diligence and market access for producers, traders, and end users across 10 LME-traded non-ferrous and EV metals, including tin, nickel, and cobalt. A majority of LME Track A deliverable tin and cobalt producers currently use RMI assessments to meet LME responsible sourcing disclosure requirements.

This LME full recognition of the RMI’s All Minerals Standard builds on existing regulatory recognition of the RMI’s standards. The RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Tin and Tantalum Standard, RMAP Tungsten Standard, and RMAP Gold Standard are recognized as equivalent under the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/821), reflecting regulatory recognition of their alignment with OECD due diligence requirements for 3TG minerals. In parallel, the London Metal Exchange’s Track A full recognition of the RMI’s Tin and Tantalum Standard and the All Minerals Standard confirms market acceptance of the RMI’s due diligence framework within the LME responsible sourcing system. Together, these recognitions reflect the RMI’s role in providing a coherent, OECD‑aligned due diligence framework that responds to both regulatory requirements and market‑based responsible sourcing expectations across all minerals.

“LME full recognition of the RMI’s All Minerals Standard gives companies throughout the value chain an important, OECD-aligned tool for due diligence across mineral supply chains, including battery materials such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and natural graphite,” said Jennifer Peyser, Executive Director of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI). “With all RMI standards now fully aligned with OECD Guidance, our portfolio offers unique value through its comprehensive minerals coverage to inform company due diligence and support compliance with minerals due diligence regulations.”

“The LME welcomes continued collaboration with the RMI, following the All Minerals Standard and associated assessments reaching full approval as an option for meeting LME Responsible Sourcing requirements,” said Mingyou Yang, Sustainability Manager, London Metal Exchange (LME). “This provides LME Brands with a fully approved Track A compliance pathway applicable to battery and critical minerals producers, including multi-metal facilities.”

The RMI will continue working with regulators, exchanges, and stakeholders across minerals supply chains to ensure its standards remain responsive to evolving expectations and support credible implementation of responsible sourcing practices globally. While the EU Battery Regulation does not currently include a mechanism for formal recognition of due diligence standards, the RMI is closely monitoring developments related to recognition processes and intends to engage as such mechanisms emerge.

Learn more about the RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) on the RMI website and contact RMI@responsiblebusiness.org for more information on the RMAP.

View the LME’s Sustainability Spotlight – March 2026 here to view the LME’s statements on the RMI’s full recognition.

 

About the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI)

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), is a multi-industry initiative with more than 500 member companies. Its members contribute to the development and international uptake of a range of tools and resources focused on minerals supply chain due diligence, including independent third-party assessments for smelters, Minerals Reporting Templates, supply chain risk assessment tools, and guidance documents on responsible sourcing of all minerals/metals. The RMI’s standards are grounded in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Together, the RMI’s standards provide a structured framework that supports companies in identifying, assessing, and responding to supply chain risks in line with internationally recognized due diligence expectations. RMI members also have access to specialized due diligence tools, including country of origin data and the RMI Facility Database. The RMI runs regular workshops on responsible sourcing issues and contributes to policy development with civil society organizations and governments. For more information, visit ResponsibleMineralsInitiative.org.

About the London Metal Exchange

The London Metal Exchange is the world centre for the trading of industrial metals – the majority of all non-ferrous metal futures business is transacted on the LME platform. Last year, 191 million lots were traded, equating to $21 trillion and 4 billion tonnes notional, with a market open interest high of 2.1 million lots. The metals community uses the LME, an HKEX Group company, as a venue to transfer or take on price risk, as a physical market of last resort and as the provider of transparent global reference prices.

 

Media Contact

Jarrett Bens, Senior Director of Communications
Responsible Business Alliance
Phone: +1 571.858.5721
jbens@responsiblebusiness.org

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 9, 2026 – The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), today announced its Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains – All Minerals (All Minerals Standard) has achieved full recognition under the London Metal Exchange (LME) Responsible Sourcing Framework, fully meeting LME Track A requirements for both the standard and its implementation.

The LME is the world’s largest industrial metal exchange. The majority of all non-ferrous metals futures business is transacted on the LME platform. Last year, 191 million lots were traded, equating to $21 trillion and 4 billion tonnes notional, with a market open interest high of 2.1 million lots.

This full recognition by LME marks an important milestone for the RMI, with all RMI standards now independently assessed as fully OECD-aligned and achieving regulatory recognition under the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation or market recognition by the LME. The RMI’s recognized standards support due diligence and market access for producers, traders, and end users across 10 LME-traded non-ferrous and EV metals, including tin, nickel, and cobalt. A majority of LME Track A deliverable tin and cobalt producers currently use RMI assessments to meet LME responsible sourcing disclosure requirements.

This LME full recognition of the RMI’s All Minerals Standard builds on existing regulatory recognition of the RMI’s standards. The RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Tin and Tantalum Standard, RMAP Tungsten Standard, and RMAP Gold Standard are recognized as equivalent under the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/821), reflecting regulatory recognition of their alignment with OECD due diligence requirements for 3TG minerals. In parallel, the London Metal Exchange’s Track A full recognition of the RMI’s Tin and Tantalum Standard and the All Minerals Standard confirms market acceptance of the RMI’s due diligence framework within the LME responsible sourcing system. Together, these recognitions reflect the RMI’s role in providing a coherent, OECD‑aligned due diligence framework that responds to both regulatory requirements and market‑based responsible sourcing expectations across all minerals.

“LME full recognition of the RMI’s All Minerals Standard gives companies throughout the value chain an important, OECD-aligned tool for due diligence across mineral supply chains, including battery materials such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and natural graphite,” said Jennifer Peyser, Executive Director of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI). “With all RMI standards now fully aligned with OECD Guidance, our portfolio offers unique value through its comprehensive minerals coverage to inform company due diligence and support compliance with minerals due diligence regulations.”

“The LME welcomes continued collaboration with the RMI, following the All Minerals Standard and associated assessments reaching full approval as an option for meeting LME Responsible Sourcing requirements,” said Mingyou Yang, Sustainability Manager, London Metal Exchange (LME). “This provides LME Brands with a fully approved Track A compliance pathway applicable to battery and critical minerals producers, including multi-metal facilities.”

The RMI will continue working with regulators, exchanges, and stakeholders across minerals supply chains to ensure its standards remain responsive to evolving expectations and support credible implementation of responsible sourcing practices globally. While the EU Battery Regulation does not currently include a mechanism for formal recognition of due diligence standards, the RMI is closely monitoring developments related to recognition processes and intends to engage as such mechanisms emerge.

Learn more about the RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) on the RMI website and contact RMI@responsiblebusiness.org for more information on the RMAP.

View the LME’s Sustainability Spotlight – March 2026 here to view the LME’s statements on the RMI’s full recognition.

 

About the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI)

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), is a multi-industry initiative with more than 500 member companies. Its members contribute to the development and international uptake of a range of tools and resources focused on minerals supply chain due diligence, including independent third-party assessments for smelters, Minerals Reporting Templates, supply chain risk assessment tools, and guidance documents on responsible sourcing of all minerals/metals. The RMI’s standards are grounded in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Together, the RMI’s standards provide a structured framework that supports companies in identifying, assessing, and responding to supply chain risks in line with internationally recognized due diligence expectations. RMI members also have access to specialized due diligence tools, including country of origin data and the RMI Facility Database. The RMI runs regular workshops on responsible sourcing issues and contributes to policy development with civil society organizations and governments. For more information, visit ResponsibleMineralsInitiative.org.

About the London Metal Exchange

The London Metal Exchange is the world centre for the trading of industrial metals – the majority of all non-ferrous metal futures business is transacted on the LME platform. Last year, 191 million lots were traded, equating to $21 trillion and 4 billion tonnes notional, with a market open interest high of 2.1 million lots. The metals community uses the LME, an HKEX Group company, as a venue to transfer or take on price risk, as a physical market of last resort and as the provider of transparent global reference prices.

 

Media Contact

Jarrett Bens, Senior Director of Communications
Responsible Business Alliance
Phone: +1 571.858.5721
jbens@responsiblebusiness.org

Originally published on CVS Health Company Newsroom

WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 9, 2026 /3BL/ – CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) announced it has been recognized by Newsweek with the 2026 AI Impact Award in the AI Health Care category, specifically for Best Outcomes – Patient Care. The award recognizes CVS Health’s AI-Driven Prescription Interpretation and Instruction Standardization technology, which embeds artificial intelligence directly into pharmacy dispensing workflows to help pharmacists improve medication safety and patient care across the company’s national pharmacy network.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to applying AI in ways that ultimately free up our clinicians’ time to better serve patients,” said Tony Ambrozie, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at CVS Health. “By embedding intelligent automation into our pharmacy workflows, we’re giving our pharmacists and technicians more time to focus on what they do best: providing expert clinical support to the patients who depend on us. This is what responsible, patient-centric AI looks like in practice.”

The Newsweek AI Impact Awards spotlight practitioner-led AI solutions delivering measurable, real-world impact. Award winners are featured on Newsweek.com.

Transforming prescription processing through responsible AI

Across the U.S. health care system, pharmacies routinely receive electronic prescriptions containing complex directions for use. These instructions historically required manual transcription by pharmacy teams, creating administrative burden and limiting the time clinicians could dedicate to direct patient support.

CVS Health addressed this challenge by deploying trained open-source large language models (LLMs) to interpret prescriber directions, parsing clinical terminology, conditional dosing logic, and contextual nuance that legacy rules-based systems could not process. In parallel, AI-driven logic analyzes frequency, quantity, and duration fields to calculate precise dosage supply — one of the most labor-intensive steps in prescription processing.

Delivering results across retail and specialty pharmacy

The solution has delivered significant, measurable outcomes across both retail and specialty pharmacy settings:

In retail pharmacy, automating this repetitive task accelerates prescription fulfillment and reduces delays at the point of care, with operational gains directly reallocated to expand clinical support capabilities.

In specialty pharmacy, where patients often manage chronic, rare, or life-threatening conditions, this tool has helped CVS Specialty onboard patients and fill their prescriptions more quickly, so they can begin therapy faster.

Patient safety and responsible AI deployment were foundational design principles throughout development. Model performance is continuously evaluated against pharmacy accuracy benchmarks, with human-in-the-loop safeguards ensuring pharmacists retain final clinical authority.

For more information about CVS Health’s technology and innovation initiatives, visit CVSHealth.com.

###

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family, and one community at a time. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 88 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated more than 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company’s integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.

Media contact

Tara Burke
646-765-4971
BurkeT1@CVSHealth.com

Originally published on CVS Health Company Newsroom

WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 9, 2026 /3BL/ – CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) announced it has been recognized by Newsweek with the 2026 AI Impact Award in the AI Health Care category, specifically for Best Outcomes – Patient Care. The award recognizes CVS Health’s AI-Driven Prescription Interpretation and Instruction Standardization technology, which embeds artificial intelligence directly into pharmacy dispensing workflows to help pharmacists improve medication safety and patient care across the company’s national pharmacy network.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to applying AI in ways that ultimately free up our clinicians’ time to better serve patients,” said Tony Ambrozie, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at CVS Health. “By embedding intelligent automation into our pharmacy workflows, we’re giving our pharmacists and technicians more time to focus on what they do best: providing expert clinical support to the patients who depend on us. This is what responsible, patient-centric AI looks like in practice.”

The Newsweek AI Impact Awards spotlight practitioner-led AI solutions delivering measurable, real-world impact. Award winners are featured on Newsweek.com.

Transforming prescription processing through responsible AI

Across the U.S. health care system, pharmacies routinely receive electronic prescriptions containing complex directions for use. These instructions historically required manual transcription by pharmacy teams, creating administrative burden and limiting the time clinicians could dedicate to direct patient support.

CVS Health addressed this challenge by deploying trained open-source large language models (LLMs) to interpret prescriber directions, parsing clinical terminology, conditional dosing logic, and contextual nuance that legacy rules-based systems could not process. In parallel, AI-driven logic analyzes frequency, quantity, and duration fields to calculate precise dosage supply — one of the most labor-intensive steps in prescription processing.

Delivering results across retail and specialty pharmacy

The solution has delivered significant, measurable outcomes across both retail and specialty pharmacy settings:

In retail pharmacy, automating this repetitive task accelerates prescription fulfillment and reduces delays at the point of care, with operational gains directly reallocated to expand clinical support capabilities.

In specialty pharmacy, where patients often manage chronic, rare, or life-threatening conditions, this tool has helped CVS Specialty onboard patients and fill their prescriptions more quickly, so they can begin therapy faster.

Patient safety and responsible AI deployment were foundational design principles throughout development. Model performance is continuously evaluated against pharmacy accuracy benchmarks, with human-in-the-loop safeguards ensuring pharmacists retain final clinical authority.

For more information about CVS Health’s technology and innovation initiatives, visit CVSHealth.com.

###

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family, and one community at a time. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 88 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated more than 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company’s integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.

Media contact

Tara Burke
646-765-4971
BurkeT1@CVSHealth.com