Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s free zones continue being one of the economy’s most robust sectors, accounting for as many as 161,257 direct jobs in 2015.
The National Free Zone Council’s (CNZFE) latest report says there were 5.2% more jobs last year, than the 153,342 in 2014.
CNZFE director Luisa Fernández said the report shows that garments and textiles continue to create the most direct jobs, with 44,744, or 27.8% of the total.
She said tobacco and derivatives follow, with 25,293 (15.7%); services 22,929 (14.2%); medicine and pharmacists 19,942 (12.4%), and footwear and its components, 18,140 (11.2%).
She said the sector's exports topped US$5.5 billion during the analyzed period, or a relative growth of 4.8% compared with the same period in 2014.