Dominican Free Zones Association president Aquiles Bermudez says that farming activities are now an active part of Adozona with exports in tobacco (cigars and cigarettes), chocolate and produce grown in controlled environments (including peppers and tomatoes). He said that farmers in Santiago will soon be exporting vegetables to the United States using the free zone platform.
Bermudez pointed out the diversification process that has taken place in free zone exports. He commented that the country has become a leader in footwear in recent years, with exports at 14 million pairs of shoes in 2013, compared to 14 million pairs of shoes from mainland China.