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Santo Domingo.- The board of the National Council of Free Trade Zones (CNZFE) approved the constitution of 12 new companies under the free zone regime, with a total investment of US$ 66.65 million. These companies, which will participate in various industries such as medical device manufacturing, call center services, tobacco processing, furniture production and more, are expected to create 670 direct jobs in the Dominican Republic.
The CNZFE expects these new companies to generate approximately US$21.6 million in foreign exchange. The investments will be distributed in several regions, including Santo Domingo, Santiago, Samaná, Puerto Plata, El Seibo and San Juan, further solidifying the presence of free zones in various areas of the country. In addition, the CNZFE approved a new industrial park with an investment of US$75.05 million, which is projected to create 1,541 direct jobs.
The executive director, Daniel Liranzo, also reported that exports from the free zone sector grew by 8% in October compared to the previous year, reaching US$ 7,268 million. The main contributors to this growth are medical devices, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, electronics and textiles. At the end of October, the sector employed 197,337 people, continuing its upward trend.