In 2007, Locus Economica Founder and CEO Jean-Paul Gauthier evaluated Costa Rica’s free zones’ legal framework’s WTO compatibility on behalf of the World Bank’s Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS), resulting in…
Evaluating Senegal's Legal Framework for Hosting SEZs
Evaluating the Legal Basis for a Russian SEZ program
Evaluating Tanzania's SEZ Legal Framework
Evaluating Bolivia's Free Zones Legal Framework
Evaluating Benin's Free Zones Legal Framework
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.
Contributing to the Creation of a Framework for LNDC Industrial Estates
Studying the Financial Structuring of Industrial Parks in sub-Saharan Africa
In 2018, Locus Economica was contracted, alongside PwC UK, by DFID's UK Aid to study the different terms and conditions of the financial structuring of industrial park deals in Africa. Jean-Paul helped produce a regional study for Invest Africa, UK Aid's initiative to promote FDI in manufacturing sectors in sub-Saharan Africa.
Rwanda Development Board Highly Recommends Locus Economica's CEO Jean-Paul Gauthier to UNIDO
Mr. Naphtal Kazoora, manager of Rwanda's Special Economic Zones Regulatory Authority, this month issued a kind letter of support for Jean-Paul Gauthier's expertise in ongoing UNIDO-supported SEZ development assistance.
Mr. Kazoora's letter to UNIDO reads in part: "I am pleased to confirm that SEZAR would welcome further support to be provided by UNIDO in the form of advice and training to be provided by Dr Jean-Paul Gauthier, Senior Expert on Special Economic Zones (SEZ): Regulatory and Institutional Development Issues ... I would be grateful if UNIDO could proceed to contract Dr Gauthier as soon as possible."
See the full letter here.
Madagascar SEZ Bill Adopted
Ehoala Port, Fort Dauphin, Madagascar – the site of a proposed SEZ
In July 2017, the Madagascar Council of Ministers adopted the SEZ Bill prepared with the technical assistance of Locus Economica in the 2015-2017 period. We had generous assistance from local counsel from the MCI law firm. The entire project was backed by funding from the World Bank Growth Poles Project.
Under the SEZ Law, which Locus Economica co-drafted, investors had, as of November 2017, signed MoUs with Rio Tinto’s Ehoala Business Park (constructed at a cost of $256 million) projected to create 1,000 jobs.
Building Kenya's Special Economic Zones Regulations
One of Locus Economica's greatest values is the guidance we provide on legal and regulatory frameworks for special economic zones (SEZs). Locus has walked alongside the Kenyan government in its development of a new special economic zones law, regulations, and subsidiary instruments for the last few years. In March-April 2017...
Continuing Guidance on the Lao SEZ Bill
Strengthening Rwanda's Special Economic Zone Regulatory System
Locus Contributes Insights on Agro-focused SEZs for the UN FAO
Strengthening Bangladesh's Economic Zones & IT Park Authorities
Helping Nepal Reach Middle-Income Status through SEZs
For the last several decades, Nepal's special economic zone (SEZ) program has intended to promote export-oriented manufacturing to help the country graduate to middle-income status.... Thus, in 2016, the DfID-supported Economic Policy Incubator (EPI) contracted Locus Economica to advise on the Nepal's SEZ program....
Jean-Paul Gauthier Featured in PM Network on the Factors for Zone Success and Failure
PM Network recently featured Locus Economica Founder and CEO Jean-Paul Gauthier on the key factors for success or failure of special economic zones (SEZs). Jean-Paul explained that initial startup costs of an SEZ can run...
Driving Progress in Chile's Zonas Extremas through Free Zones
Chile's far northern and southern regions - the "zonas extremas" - host two strategically important free zones. From October 2016 to March 2017, the World Bank retained Locus Economica to assist the Chilean Ministry of Finance, as well as several regional and local entities, with efforts to improve the free zones programs. ...
Making Mexico's Planned SEZs Align with International Best Practices
In 2016 Locus advised the Government of Mexico on the development of its new SEZ program in collaboration with Spanish consulting firm IDOM. We provided best practices for SEZs and case studies on the design of the SEZ administrative framework and investment incentives. ...
Konza Techno City Drives Kenya Closer to a Knowledge-Based Economy
Locus congratulates Kenya's Konza Techno City, which recently signed an agreement with the government of South Korea to establish a public research university valued at US$100 million. The Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kaist) will establish the university, helping Kenya achieve its goal of developing information and communication technology industries. Locus founder and CEO Jean-Paul Gauthier provided assistance to Konza City ...