President of Free Zones Association Calls for New Export Regulations

Fernando Capellán, President of the Dominican Free Zones Association (ADOZONA), argued for the creation of a new legal statute pertaining to the promotion of national exports that would allow the country to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the international market.

“The country needs a new law that will protect business activity in the free zone,” said Capellán.

Capellán said the regulations already in effect within the free market agreements with the United States and Central America and more recently with the European Union, along with the country´s privileged geographical situation, experience and technical training acquired over the years added to the natural talent of the local labor market, constitute enormous strength with which to face the challenges of exploring new business situations.

“The country needs a new law that will protect business activity in the free zone,” said Capellán. “A law to preserve that which promoted its growth, a law that is sufficiently innovative to guarantee its stability and promote development as an important and lasting source of employment and generator of finances that will form part of the social security contribution system.”

After pointing out that the 2007 contribution to the Dominican economy from the free zones in the form of exports was US$4.563 billion dollars, out of a total of US$6,819.8 billion dollars, Capellán said: “The potential for growth in our sector is limitless if we can adopt policies that frame the activity in an adequate climate, with firm, long-term, state-supported commitments that bring with them periods of financial and job security.”

Capellán made these closing remarks as the main speaker at a lunch to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of ADOZONA ´s founding.

At the lunch, held at the Hotel Hilton, ADOZONA awarded recognition plaques to the Minister of Finance, Vicente Bengoa; the Dominican Ambassador in Washington, Flavio Darío Espinal; the Director General of Customs, Miguel Cocco; the Executive Director of the National Council of Export Free Zones, Luisa Fernández. The awards were given for their support in the development and strengthening of the duty free zones in the Dominican Republic.

“What began as an assembly plant for clothing and cigar production over time turned into a sophisticated activity sustained by the highest technology…”

The Central Roman Corp was awarded recognition for having pioneered the installation of an industrial free zone in the city of La Romana.

In his speech, Capellán stressed that the evolution experienced by the industrial free zones in recent decades, from the 1970 to the present, include the installation of some 569 companies of all varieties in the already existing industrial parks which, during their most productive moment, were providing jobs for 198,000 Dominican workers and professionals of all types.

“What began as an assembly plant for clothing and cigar production over time turned into a sophisticated activity sustained by the highest technology, with companies working in the most diverse areas of industry, not just textiles which by its nature employs a lot of people, but rather shoe production, electronics, pharmaceutical, metallurgy, jewelry, medical products, services and cyberspace endeavors,” he said.

Capellán reiterated the proposal made by ADAZONA calling on the government to declare the increase of exports “a national priority” within a development plan with a minimum vision of 15 years.

He specified that this plan should be focused on various strategic goals such as the improvement in the quality of education, the functioning of traditional industries, major regulations on the exporting line, active participation in the implementation of the plan from all sectors of the country and the optimization of resources from the state apparatus.