Abstract

Accelerating industrialization is crucial for African countries to achieve the objectives outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) provide a valuable tool in realizing this objective. Previous research has highlighted challenges faced by SEZs and Industrial Zones on the continent. These challenges include poor quality infrastructure, inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks, a poor business environment, lack of strategic planning and demand-driven approaches, limited operational knowledge, resettlement and land acquisition issues, weak linkages with the local economy, inconsistent policies, coordination problems among government agencies, underutilized capacity, and limited technological innovation. The aim of this study is to identify, assess and rank the best policies and practices that are appropriate for the development of SEZs in Africa. This study used the experiences of some emerging industrial economies (China, Costa Rica, Mauritius, and Turkey) to identify the most suitable policies and strategies for the development of SEZs in Africa which form the main body of structured questionnaire administered to various experts, academicians and stakeholders of special economic zones based on 5-point Likert scale. The findings could allow the governments and policy makers to leverage multiple benefits from the experiences and practices of industrialized economies by adopting the policies that will significantly enhance the performance or development of SEZs in Africa.

Keywords: Africa, Industrialization, Policies, Practices, Special Economic Zones