President Abinader highlights tobacco as a key economic driver

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader underscored the vital role of the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic’s economy during his weekly press conference, La Semanal con la Prensa. He noted that Dominican tobacco is more than an agricultural product—it symbolizes national pride, job creation, and economic growth, with annual sales surpassing US$1.34 billion and representing 10% of the country’s total exports.

Tobacco now ranks as the nation’s third-largest export, behind only gold and medical supplies. Since 2019, exports have increased by over US$400 million, reflecting the sector’s remarkable expansion. Abinader also emphasized the industry’s contribution to employment, with more than 122,000 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly, including 40,000 roles in Tamboril alone—20% of the total sector workforce—where the unemployment rate is currently 0%. Notably, 63% of the sector’s workforce is composed of women.

Tobacco production has also seen significant growth, with over 150,000 tasks (a Dominican land measurement unit) now planted—up from fewer than 100,000 in 2019. The country currently has 29 designated tobacco-growing regions across 15 provinces, and the 2024–2025 harvest is expected to yield 330,000 quintals of tobacco. Abinader concluded by framing the sector as a cornerstone of the country’s economic and cultural identity.