The National Free Trade Zone Council (CNZFE) has approved 18 new businesses, a possible investment of RD$3.9 billion, that will begin operating soon. The companies could generate an estimated US$25.4 million in revenue and will create 2,282 new jobs. Industry and Commerce Minister Melanio Paredes announced that the private sector will invest RD$629 million in building two new free trade parks. The parks could generate US$1 billion in revenue and will create an additional estimated 14,765 new jobs. The announcements come at a time when the Dominican Free Zone Association is urging the government to maintain subsidies, support a revision of the labor laws, enforce free transport of cargo, in order to rescue the sector that has seen the loss of thousands of jobs due to competition from China.