The Dominican Republic’s free trade zones sector is closing 2025 with sustained expansion across its key indicators, reflected in increased productive space, growth in formal employment, and the preservation of its strong share in national exports.
Over the past five years, the sector has recorded steady progress that consolidates its development and diversification, amid a global environment marked by shifts in supply chains and intensifying regional competition. One of the most visible indicators of this evolution is the expansion of productive space. Between 2020 and 2025, free trade zones added more than 10 million square feet to their occupied area, according to data provided to elCaribe by Daniel Liranzo, Executive Director of the National Council of Free Trade Zones of Export (CNZFE).
This represents an increase of over 24% compared to levels five years ago. In 2025 alone, nearly one million square feet are projected to have been incorporated into productive activity, both through expansions by existing companies and the establishment of new operations.
“This expansion process has been accompanied by a significant increase in employment,” Liranzo noted. Indeed, the free trade zones sector currently employs more than 200,000 workers directly, marking a notable milestone in its recent trajectory.
When indirect effects are taken into account, the sector’s impact extends to the households of more than 600,000 Dominicans in 2025, reinforcing its role as a key pillar of the country’s formal labor market.
From a foreign trade perspective, free trade zones continue to play a decisive role. For 2025—once final figures are consolidated—sector exports are estimated to exceed US$8.6 billion, maintaining a share of over 60% of total national exports. This performance confirms free trade zones as one of the main pillars of the Dominican export apparatus, even amid an international environment characterized by heightened uncertainty and trade tensions.
Business dynamism and new investments
The momentum observed in 2025 is also reflected in business activity. Throughout the year, approximately 10 inaugurations took place, driven by the arrival and expansion of international companies that chose to establish or grow operations in the Dominican Republic. The CNZFE Board approved the installation of 82 new companies and 10 free trade zone parks, further expanding the sector’s installed capacity and geographic reach.
Adozona’s perspective
“The results confirm a deeper transformation,” said Claudia Pellerano, President of the Dominican Association of Free Trade Zones (Adozona). In an interview with elCaribe, she stated that recent performance validates the consolidation of a productive model that has grown not only in employment, but also in sophistication and territorial presence, even in a global context of intense competition and rapid changes in supply chains.
In her view, the sector’s evolution goes beyond post-pandemic recovery. It reflects a structural transformation that reinforces the role of free trade zones as a cornerstone of both the formal labor market and the export economy. Surpassing the 200,000-job threshold once again—after employment had fallen below 120,000 during the COVID-19 crisis—represents, according to Pellerano, clear validation of a strong, dynamic, and adaptable model.
Presence in 28 provinces and higher-quality employment
Employment growth over the past five years—with the creation of more than 80,000 new jobs and presence across 28 provinces—has been largely driven by the sector’s diversification process. In addition to new operations, there has been significant expansion by established companies, alongside the introduction of new processes and technologies that have increased productivity and added value across multiple productive activities.
This dynamism has strengthened the regional footprint of free trade zones and contributed to a more balanced expansion of the labor market. Provinces such as San Cristóbal, Santiago, San Pedro de Macorís, Azua, San Juan, and Monseñor Nouel rank among those with the largest increases, supported by the concentration of parks and firms, economies of scale, and the development of productive linkages.
Another defining feature of recent growth is the improvement in job quality. More than 50% of newly created positions are linked to high value-added activities, including medical devices, electronics, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and digital technologies.
These sectors require technical, bilingual, and digitally skilled talent, translating into greater opportunities for professional development and employment stability. This process has been supported by coordinated efforts between Adozona clusters and technical and vocational training institutions, aligning workforce capabilities with the evolving needs of the sector.
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