Source: Zim to accelerate SEZs – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 25 January 2018
HARARE – Zimbabwe plans to open special economic zones that offer
investors greater incentives and fewer restrictions than available to date
in the country, so as to attract investment and increase exports.
This is contained in an investment policy guideline and opportunities
position paper drafted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa entailing radical
reformation of economic policies and processes to increase chances of attracting investments.
The new policy also involves, among other things, the elimination of prior
screening of foreign investors and adoption of a risk based approach.
These zones are mainly aimed at promoting value addition and beneficiation by offering targeted
and specific incentives to investors.
Financial research firm Equity Axis said SEZs programmes should be part
of the broad national development agenda and should be designed to best
complement and support comparative advantages, as validated through a detailed strategic
planning, feasibility and master-planning process.
“This is key to ensure viability and long-term sustainability of SEZs
based on real market demand. Randomly picking areas to implement zones
programmes may fail to bear desirable outcomes,” it said in a commentary.
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