President Hipolito Mejia has declared 12 August the Day of Industrial Free Zones. At the same time he issued several decrees one of which honors Delta Brush Manufacturing as the first free zone industry in the DR. It was started in 1969 in the La Romana Free Zone, a venture developed by Charles Bluhdorn and Alvaro Carta. In another decree, the President honored several businessmen with the Order of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, rank of Commander. It was given to Richard Hsu and Odette Hsu of the San Pedro de Macoris industrial park; Luis Tejada Pimentel of the Bani park; Carlos Manuel Alvarez Torres and Celso Antonio Portela of the Santiago park; Marcelo Bermudez of Dominican Sport; Manolo Quezada of Manufactura de Tabaco; and Manuel Enrique Tavarez Sanchez of Itabo park. The President also signed decorations for Marvin Samberg, Mark Fishman, Bill Compton, Joe Macarrone, Jeffrey Stewart, Stanley Siegel, Edward Kittredge, Jack Ward, Kevin Burke, Paul Charron, Bud Paine, Byunch Yun Jun, Jose Seijas Garcia, Luis Torres, and Roberto Rodriguez, who are also considered pioneers of the industry.The President honors with the Order of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, rank of knight: Graciela Jimenez, Altagracia Valera, Luis Berroa, Phillip Diep, Carmen Cedano, Nilda Barret, Gisela Núñez, Maria Concepcion, Victoria Mendez, Fabio Cruz, Jose Ramon Peña, Francia Gonzalez, Bienvenido Sosa, Bienvenido Martienez and Dulce Peguero.
