The Free Zones sector of the Dominican Republic has a record of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from more than 40 countries, the USA being the main investment partner, with an accumulated investment of 2,136.73 million dollars.
According to data from the National Council of Free Export Zones (CNZFE), at the end of 2021, the Foreign Direct Investment accumulated by the free zones reached the figure of 4,642.01 million dollars, that is a 12% growth compared to 2020, amounting to approximately 500.05 million dollars.
According to the study “Provincial productive profiles to promote exports and attract investment for development”, the United States tops the list as the main investment partner of the Free Zones sector, growing by 11%.
The UK is in second place, with $391.41 million, growing by 1%. Germany is in third place, with $378.58 million, growing by 13%; and in fourth place Canada, with 249.85 million dollars, growing by 11%.
Other investors include Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, China and South Korea.
Accumulated Foreign Direct Investment by sector and country of origin
The official report details that by 2021, the FDI captured by the Dominican Republic had reached 3,102.1 million dollars, growing by 21% compared to 2020, and surpassing pre-pandemic figures in 2019 by 3%.
The report specifies that the main sectors to attract foreign direct investment by 2021 are Tourism, accounting for 31%, amounting to 961.8 million dollars; Real Estate 16%, with 497.4 million dollars; Mining 15%, with 472.5 million dollars; and Trade/Industry 11%, with 330.7 million dollars.
The report also points out that, during the period 2011-2021, the Dominican FDI Stock amounted to 29,018.4 million dollars, highlighting especially the investment destined to the tourism sectors, with 6,757.1 million dollars, accounting for 23%, closely followed in second place by trade/industry, with 6,436.9 million dollars, accounting for 22%.
The real estate sector remains in third place, with 4,396.3 million dollars and a 15% share, and in fourth place the mining sector, with a cumulative investment of 4,060.3 million dollars, for a 14% share.
The study explains that the Dominican Republic receives foreign direct investment flows from different countries throughout the world. This has allowed the country to become one of the most popular investment destinations in the region. Furthermore, the main foreign direct investment partners in the country are the United States, with 6,676.5 million dollars; Canada, with $4,331.90 million; Brazil, with $2.244 billion; Spain, with 1,869.9 million dollars; and Mexico, with $1,603.7 million.
Source:
Diario Libre
