AfCFTA: How special economic zones can boost manufacturing and trade in Africa
In Africa, SEZs have gained prominence as a strategy to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), create employment, boost exports, and accelerate industrialisation.
Since the 1970s, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been a key policy tool for driving industrial transformation and economic development. The first SEZs emerged in China in the late 1970s, following Deng Xiaoping’s “Open Door” policy.
Inspired by China's success, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted SEZ models in the 1990s, and the concept has since been embraced globally.
