2005News

Central Bank on free zone exports

Olga Diaz Mora, advisor to the Central Bank on National Accounts, told Diario Libre that free zone exports during the first three months of the year were US$1.03 billion, not the US$668.9 million reported by the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD). She said the source for the data is the US Department of Commerce. Diario Libre reports that exports for the same period in 2004 were US$1.02 billion. Free zone sector spokesman Arturo Peguero has disputed the Central Bank’s claims, reporting that the sector grew 3.5% during the first quarter.