In 2004, Locus Economica Founder and CEO Jean-Paul Gauthier evaluated Benin’s legal framework for hosting free zones on behalf of the World Bank’s Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) and made a certain number of recommendations in this regard. Shortly thereafter, in 2005, the Benin Industrial Free Zone Management Company was created in and the Industrial Free Zone Law adopted. Twenty-five enterprises are now operating in the zone.