Free zone exports were US$4,300 million in 1999, generating more than US$1,000 million. This is a 10% increase when compared to 1998 exports that totaled US$3,900, says Gabriel Castro, executive director of the National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE). Castro pointed out that at the start of the Fernández administration in 1996, free zone exports were US$2,800 million, generating US$500 million. In 1999, 74 new free zone industries and five industrial parks were approved, requiring an estimated investment of RD$2,464.4 million. Of the investment RD$1,020.8 million will be invested to build industrial parks and RD$1,443.6 million to build free zone industries. The investment is expected to create 11,205 new jobs. Of the 74 new free zone industries, 66 industries will operate in existing industrial parks, and eight have received special free zone rating. The manufacturing plants are broken down by activity as follows: 20 (27%) textiles; 17 (22.9%) services; 4 (5.4%) cigarettes; 3 (4%) medical products; 2 (2.7%) jewelry; 1 (1.3%) footwear; and 27 (36.4%) other activities. The CNZFE approved the following new industrial parks: Zona Franca Industrial de Jaibón, RD$25 million investment; Zona Franca Industrial El Puerto, RD$112.3 million investment; Zona Franca Industrial de los Minas, RD$19.7 million investment; Parque Cibernético de Santo Domingo, RD$800 million investment; and Parque Industrial de Las Salinas, RD$63.7 million investment.
