2025 – ABRAZPE

A new start for Africa’s Special Economic Zones?

6 minutos By Julien Gourdon, Senior Economist, and Simon Azuélos, Africa analyst, at the Agence française de développement | Across Africa, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have become a central feature of industrial policy. The pitch is compelling: areas within a nation’s borders, in which streamlined regulations, tax incentives, and dedicated infrastructure can help kick-start industrialization. In 1970 Mauritius became the first African country to establish a SEZ; as of 2023, more than 230 zones have been established in 43 African countries to attract investment, boost exports, Continue lendo→

The Laboratory of Capitalism: Special Economic Zones and the Geo-Spatial Logic of Reform

11 minutos Introduction: The Airlock Strategy In 1979, the border between the British colony of Hong Kong and the Chinese county of Bao’an was one of the starkest economic fault lines on earth. On the south side lay a neon-lit hyper-capitalist enclave, a hub of global finance and trade. On the north side lay a stagnant hinterland where per capita GDP was less than $200, and where residents frequently risked death by swimming across the Shenzhen Bay to escape poverty. The establishment of Special Continue lendo→

Projeto do TikTok no Ceará prevê 5 data centers e investimento de R$ 457 bi até 2035

3 minutos A Bytedance, conglomerado chinês que controla o TikTok, recebeu aprovação do CZPE (Conselho Nacional das Zonas de Processamento de Exportações) para instalar cinco data centers no porto de Pecém, no Ceará. As obras demandarão um investimento de R$ 485 bilhões até 2035, segundo ata da reunião realizada em novembro. O órgão, ligado ao Mdic (Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria, Comércio e Serviços), autoriza e fiscaliza a atuação de empresas em áreas que concentram benefícios fiscais voltados à exportação. A big tech espera começar a Continue lendo→

How free zones are redefining global investment

3 minutos Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) | The influence of free zones on global investment patterns continues to grow. Traditionally offering businesses and manufacturers a designated area with tax exemptions and streamlined customs, they are now shaping where and how industries invest, supporting advanced manufacturing, innovation and resilient growth that increasingly extend beyond their borders. Their historic role in facilitating trade remains vital, but today’s investors are prioritising capability, speed to market and resilience. This transformation is being driven by a set of Continue lendo→

“O Ceará está pronto para liderar a convergência entre energia renovável e infraestrutura digital”

3 minutos Entrevista exclusiva com Fábio Feijó, presidente da Zona de Processamento de Exportação do Ceará (ZPE Ceará).À Revista NORDESTE, o presidente da ZPE Ceará detalha como o estado estrutura a chegada de grandes data centers, os investimentos bilionários em energia limpa e a estratégia que pode consolidar o Ceará como hub digital do Nordeste. Importante ressaltar que, no Ceará, o governador Elmano de Freitas exige que novos empreendimentos devam utilizar apenas energia produzida por fontes renováveis. Confira a entrevista: Integração energética e sustentabilidade Continue lendo→