Dominican free zone association praises Fernandez's efforts

Dominicantoday.com , Santo Domingo, September 21 st 2007

The president of the Dominican Association of Free Zone Companies (ADOZONA) said the Government is demonstrating with facts its commitment to improve the industry's situation.

Fernando Capellan said President Leonel Fernandez's efforts in the United States where he asked Trade representative Susan Schwab a better treatment for the local free zones.

In the last few months ADOZONA has pushed for approval of legislation and requests of better treatment, leaving aside the topic of the local currency's value. Capellan also praised the opening of Dominican Republic Trade Management Office in New York.

ADOZONA groups 44 members scattered in industrial parks and private operators, who account for some 132,000 direct jobs in technology, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, textiles, footwear and tobacco, among others.

Fernandez requested that the U.S. Department of Commerce provide facilities for the so called "short supply" and the "2x1," a mechanism which benefits the manufacture of trousers, as compensation to the change in the rule of origin of the cloth for pockets.