In 2004, Jean-Paul Gauthier served the Kurdistan Investment Board as it sought to develop a Sulaymaniyah Secured Commercial Area. Jean-Paul served as Legal Component Lead and helped create a development strategy for the area, under a contract between Deloitte and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq, as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government. The project aimed to stabilize this conflict zone through prosperity-enhancing business initiatives. Jean-Paul developed a concession agreement for a business park and a supportive legislative framework for the initiative.

This project is one of many examples of Locus' experience helping develop special economic zones in conflict-affected states.