Indeed, in 2022 exports totaled US$12,391 million, an increase of 4.7% over the previous year, which already represented a 20% increase over 2020 figures.

Significantly, the free trade zones have played a key role in this process, with exports from this sector currently representing 63.2% of the country’s total exports. Last year alone, free trade zone exports amounted to US$7.768 million and created more than 192,000 direct jobs, thus becoming an essential generator of jobs, foreign exchange, and investment attraction. Thanks to the government’s business-friendly mentality, its focus on innovation, and the strategic public-private alliance it has promoted since its early days, the country’s manufacturing sector is blooming. In 2023, several key free trade productive sub-sectors increased their exports, particularly the agro-industrial, plastic, metal, electrical, and medical products and devices. Furthermore, in the services sector, around 14% of exports correspond to non-traditional services in the financial, insurance, and information technology industries. Such figures evidence the dynamism and innovation of these industries and the fact that “the Dominican industrial sector is experiencing an awakening never seen before,” as President Abinader states.