OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE AFRICAN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES TRAINING ACADEMY

The African SEZs Training Academy, which stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2024 in Nairobi between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Africa Economic Zones Organization (AEZO), was officially launched on Monday, September 15, 2025, at Tanger Med Group’s headquarters. This initiative is a key step toward structuring a coherent, resilient, and innovative African Special Economic Zone (SEZ) ecosystem.

Conceived as a permanent platform for training, dialogue, and expertise sharing, the academy aims to strengthen the skills of SEZ professionals across the continent. More than 50 participants from 24 African countries (SEZ management authorities and public institutions) took part in the first Pilot Training sessions, which focused on governance standards, investment attractiveness, sustainable development, and best operational practices.

According to Mr. Ahmed Bennis, Managing Director of Tanger Med Zones and Secretary General of AEZO, the launch of the academy reflects the transition “from vision to action,” with the ambition of developing skills, transferring expertise, and building a network of African leaders capable of supporting the continent’s industrial transformation. By promoting structured feedback exchanges and alignment with international standards, the academy should contribute to the capacity building of SEZs, the quality of their services, and their impact on sustainable competitiveness and industrialization in Africa.