A Thought Leader for Africa
Mission: "To help government and the private sector deliver economic transformation that improves lives."
Vision: "An economically transformed Africa within a generation."

How SEZ will accelerate economic development in Africa

 African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET)

While the SEZs have been the pillar of the development of investment and trade in Southeast Asia, thanks to industrialization approaches based on a triple territorial, sectoral and technological integration, they are struggling to take off in Africa. Indeed the continent has only some 200 SEZs (less than the Philippines alone which has 400 SEZs) out of an estimated global inventory of 5,000 SEZs, nearly 4,000 of which are in Asia. With the energy transition and new climate challenges, the economic models of the SEZs are called upon to evolve to ensure a greater role as a catalyst for economic development. This is all the more true in Africa, where SEZs can be protected business ecosystems or even islands of prosperity with infrastructure and a business environment adapted to the development of start-ups and SMEs.

How SEZ will accelerate economic development in Africa


Humanist engineer and multi-faceted professional, I have the chance to practice as a consultant in development strategy as well as investment advisor. I'am a recognized trainer of trainers and inspirational speaker in the startup ecosystem where I like to share my experience with innovative entrepreneurs, particularly in business modeling and intellectual property protection strategies.

Associate Professor of International Economic Law at TLBU Graduate School of Law, South Korea

• 2 years of executive experience as CEO at Ulsan Economic Promotion Agency, South Korea

• 5 years of legal and investment attraction experience at Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, Korea

• Special Economic Zones, FDI Attraction, Investment Facilitation expert

Freda Yawson is a consultant working on infrastructure & innovation under the Innovation & Digital Policy focus area.

Freda has over 10 years of combined experience in international development, engineering, management consulting, and project/portfolio management. Her strengths lie not only in the development of strategic initiatives for the government and private sector but also in the implementation of these solutions in a global context.

Her experience in program management, institutional reform, management consulting and international development span projects in eight countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Honduras, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the United States). Her areas of work have included youth and skills, renewable energy, manufacturing, and water and sanitation.

Freda received her Masters in International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University; and her BScE in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Pietro Francesco Mininni is the Head of the Africa region at The European House –
Ambrosetti, n.1 private Think Italy, n.4 in Europe and among the top 20 in the world.
He is also the Project Director of the annual Ambrosetti flagship Forum in the African
Continent, and he is the Founder and Executive Director of the CEO Community –
African Chapter, a leading CEO club in the region.
He is the co-founder of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle
East, of which is the Project Director, a trilateral concerted effort of public and
private stakeholders to raise positive attention on the future of healthcare and of
international partnerships in these regions.


1.  What are the new trends in the economic models of SEZs?
2.  To what extent can SEZs produce industrial champions in Africa? What are the conditions for this?
3. How to measure the performance of SEZ, and how to accelerate the development of SEZs in Africa?
4. Q&A session


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