UNIDO AND AEZO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN AFRICA

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the African Economic Zones Organization (AEZO), representing African SEZs, are joining forces to promote the development of these strategic zones. At the African SEZ 2024 annual meeting, the two organizations presented their joint report entitled “Characteristics, Trends, and Prospects for Special Economic Zones in Africa – Insights from a UNIDO-AEZO Survey.”

Based on a survey of 63 SEZs in 26 countries, this report examines the current situation and explores the potential of African SEZs. It outlines three strategic recommendations for maximizing their economic impact:

The report presents three strategic recommendations for African SEZs to maximize their economic impact:

• Strengthening management structures to improve efficiency and attract more investments.
• Embracing digitization, an essential lever for boosting competitiveness and operational efficiency.
• Diversifying into high-growth sectors, such as tourism and ICT, thereby reducing dependence on traditional industries and creating new economic opportunities.

The report, financed by the European Union and the Secretariat of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACP) through the ACP Friend Program, offers valuable insights into the future of African SEZs.

At the event, UNIDO and AEZO also formalized their commitment to strengthening their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This initiative is part of UNIDO’s ongoing programs, in particular the African Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (ASAP-Z) initiative, launched at the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) last year. This initiative aims to transform rural areas into thriving agro-industrial sectors.

“Together, we aim to create an investment-friendly environment in which economic zones can prosper and unlock Africa’s vast economic potential,” said Mr. Beger at the signing ceremony. This enhanced cooperation will play a key role in the successful implementation of continent-wide initiatives supporting Africa’s industrialization and sustainable development.