Punta Cana. – President Luis Abinader highlighted today that so far in 2022 the free trade zone from the Dominican Republic broke records for export with a growth of more than 10% and with projections of exceeding 8,000 million dollars.
When participating in the XXV Ibero-American Free Zones Conference, the president affirmed that the country continues to grow and become a world benchmark in various economic sectors related to Free Zones.
During the event, the Association of Free Zones of the Americas (AZFA) recognized President Luis Abinader and the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes, Víctor -Ito-Bisonó for their invaluable work, commitment and dedication to the free zones of Dominican Republic.
“They are an example of firm commitment by our regime. What they do because of the Dominican Republic, they are doing throughout the region”, said the president of AZFA, Gustavo González De Vega, when presenting the recognition plaque.
While in his speech, President Abinader affirmed that these are not simple words, because last year 2021 the Free Zones of the country broke export records, exceeding 7,000 million dollars for the first time.
“As if that were not enough, so far in 2022, we have exceeded these amazing figures and we have grown more than 10% and with projections of exceeding 8,000 million dollars,” Abinader highlighted.
The Head of State stated that this exponential growth has also been reflected in the increase in opportunities, since to date, the Dominican free zones provide the country with close to 200,000 direct jobs, and indirectly impact more than 500,000 families.
«And as if this were not enough, while before we had less than 10% technical jobs, today our free zones reflect more than 30% technical jobs. They are not just more jobs, they are better jobs, in areas related to medical devices, electronic devices, technology, service, and many others », he highlighted.
Abinader also stressed that the Dominican Republic this year will break a record in foreign investment, reaching around 4,000 million dollars.
The president maintained that these figures, for a country of 10 million inhabitants, show that greatness rests on the effort and dedication of a society, and not on its physical size, and that the free zone sector has played a determining role and has constituted an essential pillar in the economic and social growth of the country.
President Abinader considered that Ibero-America has established itself as a pillar and an example to the rest of the world over the years, adding that the essence and nature of the Association of Free Zones of the Americas (AZFA) is to promote and defend the integration and cooperation between all the countries of Ibero-America and the world, to which the Dominican Republic joins with great enthusiasm and impetus.
“The promotion of free zones throughout the hemisphere, their integration and unity, and the joint work of the public and private sectors, is the key to overcoming all the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts. », he expressed.
Furthermore, he explained, great things can be achieved together and this success that we as a country can display is the same that I long for in our region. Our doors are open, and our hands are eager to help in any way and at any time, to build a region that is known throughout the world as a region that produces quality, and that is full of people willing to work to achieve it.
Legal security guarantee
Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Free Zones of the Americas (AZFA), Gustavo González De Vega, assured that the best incentive that governments can offer to Free Zones is the guarantee of legal security.
“Thank you, Mr. President, because this is a great example of the firm commitment of a government that has supported public and private activity, defends its regime, defends it here in the front row and defends them in all their speeches,” said González De Vega.
For his part, the president of the World Organization of Free Zones, Mohammed Alzarooni, thanked the organizers of this important event for the hospitality and generosity they have shown and said that he would not have imagined holding this conference in a more beautiful place than Punta Cane.
Present at the event were the Ministers of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes Víctor Bisonó; from the Presidency, Joel Santos; the president of the Dominican Association of Free Zones (ADOZONA), Luis José Bonilla; the elected president of AZFA, Claudia Pellerano; the executive director of the National Council of Free Export Zones (CNZFE), Daniel Liranzo and the director of Proindustria, Ulises Rodríguez.
Also, the director of INFOTEP, Rafael Santos Badia; DP World Executive Vice President Mohammed Al Muallem; the director of Prodominicana, Biviana Riveiro and the president of Caucedo Development Corporation, Samuel Conde.
