During the January-October 2021 period, direct jobs generated by the free trade zone sector in the Dominican Republic reached 180,252 jobs, representing a growth of 8.4% when compared to the same period in 2020.
The statistics presented by the National Council of Free Export Zones (CNZFE) reveal that this number of jobs constitutes a “record number” in the last 17 years, since since 2004, this sector did not exceed 180,000 direct jobs.
The executive director of the CNZFE, Daniel Liranzo, stated that during this year, the free trade zones continued to be one of the productive activities that generates the greatest number of direct jobs in the Dominican economy, so despite the economic crisis generated by the covid-19 and confinement, they were able to recover 100% of the jobs that ended in 2019, while generating new jobs.
A press release from the CNZFE highlights that the largest number of jobs in the sector corresponds to the activity of tobacco and its derivatives with 38,713 positions, followed by clothing and textiles with a total of 33,914; services with 32,945. These are followed by medical and pharmaceutical products with 28,651 as well as electrical and electronic products with 10,758, among others.
The companies located in the northern region of the country generated 37.6% of the jobs in free zones, with a total of 67,851; those located in the National District and Santo Domingo province generated 32.1%, with a total of 57,596; while those located in the southern region, 17.2% (31,048), while those located in the eastern region, 13.1% (23,563).
Liranzo said that the development and growth registered by the free zones is due in large part to the support, trust and legal security that the government team headed by President Luis Abinader has given to entrepreneurs and investors.
