Speaking at the weekly press briefing at the Presidential Palace yesterday, Monday 1 July, Luisa Fernandez, the director of the National Council of Free Zones confirmed that the industrial free zones sector continues to grow. She trusts they will meet the goal of creating 100,000 new jobs during the four years of the administration of President Danilo Medina. Medina has committed to create 400,000 jobs during his 2012-2016 term.
Fernandez said yesterday that during the first six months of 2013, 49 new free zone businesses have been approved providing 11,600 new jobs of 15,480 the sector is expected to open this year. Among these is Timberland that is opening 2,800 jobs in the Pizano Free Zone in Santiago, she commented.
Fernandez also told the press that the Dominican Republic has become the regional lead exporter of medical devices to the United States. She said these exports now surpass apparel exports. Between medical devices and apparel, exports were US$2.5 billion in 2012 of a total US$4.98 billion in Dominican industrial free zone exports, up 2.1% compared to 2011.
She said that the Council has been holding job fairs to help employers find the managerial, technical and other employees that are needed.
She said that the Professional and Technical Training Institute (Infotep) is serving the training needs of the industrial free zones. She explained that in 2012, 36,000 people had participated in Infotep training programs.
Industrial free zones operating in the Dominican Republic contribute 3% of the GDP, to the tune of RD$4.8 billion in exports. At year’s end, the free zones contributed 134,226 jobs, of which 50.2% were held by women and 49.8% by men.
Free zone exports make up 55% of all Dominican exports.
http://www.presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/crecimiento-de-zonas-francas-creara-miles-de-empleos-en-republica-dominicana