NewsWhore
10-29-2010, 04:30 PM
President Leonel Fernandez was in Punta Cana yesterday to attend the Latin American Free Zone Conference at the Paradisus Palma Real resort. He highlighted the way the industry in the DR had suffered with the entry of China and the removal of the multi-fiber agreement. Fernandez spoke of the many opportunities for the industry as it diversifies, improves productivity and innovates to deliver high-value-added products to the global value chain. Thirty countries are participating in the event. "This is not about being competitive with low wages, but with products and services with greater added value, which means training, to move on to more sophisticated production. That is the big challenge," he said, as reported in Listin Diario. He said he was convinced that proposals, projects and programs would be forthcoming to strengthen more initiatives and contribute to the consolidation of the free zones in the DR, Central America and the Caribbean.
Luisa Fernandez, director of the National Free Zones Council (CNZE) said that 533 free zone companies are currently operating in 55 parks nationwide. She said that International Labor Organization statistics showed that at a global level there are 3,500 free zone parks with 127,360 companies. In Latin America, there are 540 parks with 19,000 companies.
Fernando Capellan, president of the Dominican Association of Free Zones said that the conditions are right to re-launch free zone exports. He said the sector represented 69% of the total national exports in 2009, or US$3.78 billion of US$5.46 billion. He said that the free zone sector now has a diversified range of exportable products and greater value-added services, and an integrated process with operators who are increasingly better trained.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
Luisa Fernandez, director of the National Free Zones Council (CNZE) said that 533 free zone companies are currently operating in 55 parks nationwide. She said that International Labor Organization statistics showed that at a global level there are 3,500 free zone parks with 127,360 companies. In Latin America, there are 540 parks with 19,000 companies.
Fernando Capellan, president of the Dominican Association of Free Zones said that the conditions are right to re-launch free zone exports. He said the sector represented 69% of the total national exports in 2009, or US$3.78 billion of US$5.46 billion. He said that the free zone sector now has a diversified range of exportable products and greater value-added services, and an integrated process with operators who are increasingly better trained.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)