President Leonel Fernández visited the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, as part of his rounds prior to handing in government on 16 August. Minister Luis Manuel Bonetti gave an overview of his department’s achievements, mentioning that employment in the free zone category grew from 160,000 in 1996 to 200,000 at present. There are forecasts for an increase in employment of 25% as the country begins to enjoy benefit of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), the textile parity bill. He forecast employment should be at 250,000 jobs in free zones by 2001. Bonetti explained that while in 1996 there were 34 industrial parks, today there are 46, for a 33% growth. Exports are up 39% in the four years, going from US$3,107 million to US$4,332 million in 1999. Furthermore, he said that poultry production was up from 8 million units in 1996 to 12 million units in 1999, and egg production is up 13%. He commented milk production; comestible oils and pasta production was up. He said beer production showed an increment of 67%, cement production of 58% and paints production of 38%. He said the government small and medium-sized business support programmed channeled RD$1,040 million to these, creating 60,000 jobs and financing 14,365 companies.
