A volume of exports that would exceed 8,000 million dollars and the generation of 200 thousand jobs, is what is projected by President Luis Abinader in the free zone sector for the end of this 2022, due to the growth that this productive area has had in the last year.
During a press conference held at the National Palace, the president stressed that his government is focused on attracting more investment, boosting exports and increasing the country’s participation in global and regional value chains.
“We will continue working to maintain a climate of stability and trust, protecting installed investments so that new investors also join, betting on our country and continue generating new and better opportunities for all Dominicans,” said the president during the act accompanied of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes, Víctor Bisonó.
He said that the results achieved until last year and that they continue to show since the beginning of this year in terms of jobs, investments and exports, convincingly show that they are on the right track and that the free zones grow and are strengthened every day.
Maintain stable climate
The head of state guaranteed that his administration will continue working to maintain a climate of stability and trust to protect installed investments and so that new investors also join and bet on the Dominican Republic.
In this way, he added, they will continue to generate new and better opportunities for all Dominicans.
He raised the importance of leveraging this model to take advantage of the opportunities that have arisen in the current international context.
The engine of the economy
On his side, Minister Víctor Bisonó highlighted the resilience that free trade zones have experienced, a sector he described as the engine of the economy and a key catalyst in the economic recovery process, due to the increase in direct jobs generated, the professionalization of its labor force, the growth of exports and the impulse to the national productive chain.
“During the pandemic, in 2020, contrary to all forecasts, the sector became stronger, came out stronger and improves every year. This dynamism is leveraged in the correct application of public policies in favor of its development”, said Bisonó.
He added that if in 2021 the free zones exhibited extraordinary results, in 2022 they are heading to make history due to the projections of the first five months of the year.
The free zones reached a historical maximum in the month of April 2022 with the generation of more than 188 thousand direct jobs, the highest level in the last 17 years, according to the official.
When presenting a condensed balance, he maintained that, despite the health crisis caused by covid-19, this sector, whose workforce is made up of 52% women and 48% men, remained in 2020 with 95% of the workforce. total registered jobs and by the end of that year it recovered 100% of the jobs.
Leadership in various export areas
The president of the Board of Directors of the Free Zone of the Americas and vice president of Adozona, Claudia Pellerano, highlighted the important Dominican leadership both regionally and globally, in export lines such as medical devices, electronics, the manufacture of cigarettes, jewelry , textiles and footwear. Likewise, she pointed out, the country is positioning itself as a regional hub of growing importance.
