“Tobacco industry already generates more than 122,000 direct jobs in the DR”

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The tobacco industry generates more than 122 thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Dominican Republic, according to the director of the Tobacco Institute, Iván Hernández Guzmán.

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Hernández Guzmán indicated that of this figure, 40,000 are from free trade zones, becoming the third main source of job generation in the sector, after the textile and medical supplies industries.

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The director of INTABACO spoke about the topic while participating in the mass for the 64th anniversary of the institution, officiated at the Santiago Apóstol Cathedral in Santiago, which was attended by Governor Rosa Santos, Mayor Ulises Jiménez, and other personalities.

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The official pointed out that 130 tobacco and derivative free zone companies operate in the DR, 93 percent located in the northern region, 5% in the eastern region, and 2% in the southern region and Santo Domingo.

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He highlighted that “The tobacco industry is constantly growing in the country thanks to the joint work of the public and private sectors, which has been reflected in the increase in production, exports, and job creation”.

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Hernández Guzmán highlighted that tobacco exports increased by 41% from 2019 to date, going from 940 million dollars to 1.359 billion by the end of 2025, and that the figure will be higher by 2026. He added that in the last year alone (2024-2025), exports grew by 19 million dollars, which is equivalent to more than 1 billion pesos.

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Guzmán said that this growth facilitated new investments and was reflected in the increase of direct jobs, which went from 97,486 in 2019 to more than 122,000 in 2026; the planted areas increased by 51%, going from 100,000 to 160,000, and the quintals of tobacco produced from 278,634 to more than 330,000.

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He highlighted that the tobacco industry is a driver of the national economy and remains the third largest export product of the Dominican Republic, after gold and medical supplies.

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South region extension

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Tobacco production is spreading to the southern region of the country, especially in Azua and San Juan, where the Government remodeled and built new free trade zone warehouses where hundreds of people work. Among the companies installed in San Juan are Tabacalera El Artista, Tabacos del Sur, and La Aurora.

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Government Assistance

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The Government has provided preferential rate financing through the Agricultural Bank, the construction of Free Zones such as in San Juan through Proindustria, and through the Tobacco Institute, it has provided training, technical assistance, soil preparation, delivery of seedlings, seeds, land plowing, pest control assistance, for the construction of curing houses, delivery of documentation for import, export, donation of fumigation equipment, coordination of actions for the development of the sector, national and international promotion of the sector, among other services.

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