In a drive to advance industrialisation and economic diversification across Central Africa, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with the African Union, African Development Bank, UNIDO, and UNDP, is set to host a symposium on Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The event will take place in Douala, Cameroon, from 21 to 23 January 2025, bringing together regional and international stakeholders.
Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of ECA’s Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa, emphasised the critical role of SEZs, stating, “The development of regional value chains requires an alignment of industrialisation frameworks, of which Special Economic Zones are the main tool.”
The symposium will serve as a platform for experts from ECCAS and CEMAC member states, financial organisations, development partners, and the private sector to discuss strategies to accelerate the establishment and operationalisation of SEZs. The initiative aims to use SEZs as instruments for inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, economic diversification, and enhanced regional cooperation.
Building on previous milestones, including the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts meeting in 2022 in Seychelles and a sub-regional webinar on SEZs, the symposium is expected to foster a shared commitment to industrialisation. Key outcomes will include the formation of an inter-agency working group, the creation of a regional cooperation platform, and the development of a joint programme to assist member states in implementing next-generation SEZs.
This effort aligns with Central Africa’s commitment to reducing vulnerabilities to exogenous shocks, such as inflation and budget imbalances, through sub-regional import-substitution strategies anchored in industrialisation plans. These strategies are also designed to support the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reflecting commitments made at the African Union’s extraordinary summit in Niamey, Niger, in 2022.
The symposium marks a significant step towards fostering regional economic resilience and creating sustainable industrial value chains across Central Africa.
