Tangier, Morocco. Image: Lonely Planet.
Addressing administrative barriers to growth is central to Locus Economica's work. Whether we are helping our clients remove barriers through special economic zones or through broader nationwide reforms, the process is similar: We study the challenges to starting and running a business and advise on methods of reducing those challenges.
Locus' experience in this area stretches back to the late 1990s. For example, from 1999 to 2002, Locus founder and CEO Jean-Paul Gauthier helped the government of Morocco address administrative barriers to investment while serving as interim chief of party and project manager for the USAID Investor Roadmap for Morocco Program. Jean-Paul resided in Morocco during this period, providing hands on, personalized assistance to the government. He gave high level presentations to the Vice President and prepared briefs for HM Mohammed VI.
The USAID Investor Roadmaps help developing countries and donors identify the major barriers to investment in a country and help governments remove those constraints. The roadmap programs first analyze each procedure for establishing a new business in a country, then consist of workshops with national and regional officials to discuss those procedures, and, finally, provide technical assistance to remove, reduce, or simplify the process for starting a business.
Jean-Paul's performed this work as a Manager for The Services Group (TSG) and AECOM.