The Dominican Republic’s top diplomat in Hong Kong has urged city authorities to open a trade office and use his Caribbean country as a strategic base for access to Latin America.

Consul General Eduardo Pelagio Alvarez Hernández also expressed hope for strengthening air connections, saying shorter routes and lower travel costs would open opportunities for tourism and trade.

Currently, Hong Kong’s 14 overseas economic and trade offices are spread across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, with none in Latin America.

Alvarez suggested opening a trade office in his country, while all three U.S. offices are expected to be closed by President-elect Donald Trump if a bipartisan bill is approved by the Senate.

In an interview with the Post, the envoy said the Dominican Republic was strategically located to give Hong Kong access to major markets in North, Central and South America.