The number of special economic zones worldwide has increased, reaching *** thousand in 2018, from about ** in 1975. Free trade zones facilitate the accessibility of investors to the market and offer an encouraging incentive for foreign direct investments.  Overview of Special Economic Zones Free trade zones, also known as special economic zones (SEZ) are areas in a country that have unique trade rules and regulations other than the country’s main regulations. These zones increase investments, especially foreign investments, as they provide the environment with supportive policies and infrastructure that reduce risk and increase incentives. In 2018, there were free trade zones in around 147 countries worldwide. Among the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the United Arab Emirates had about 47 SEZ which is the highest in the region. Special economic zones provide entry to new markets with the extra support of having a neutral political zone.  MENA Special Economic Zones   Free trade zones are important as they often have a large influence on political relationships between countries. Free trade zones provide multiple advantages to the country by promoting and supporting growth and integration through infrastructure development, greater investments, and providing jobs. To attract foreign investors, free trade zone operators in the MENA region offer ownership rights, tax and duties exemptions, and relaxed labor laws. The value of foreign direct investments in the MENA region almost reached ** billion U.S. dollars in 2017. The value of foreign direct investments into the UAE exceeded **** billion U.S. dollars by 2019, with the largest share being in the real estate sector. The largest foreign direct investments to the United Arab Emirates were from the United Kingdom of Great Britain at more than ** billion UAE dirhams in 2015.

The Managing Company Titanium Valley a special purpose vehicle formed by Ministry of Industry and Science, Sverdlovsk region and Government of Sverlovsk region, is developing the project in Sverdlovsk, Russia. The project involves the construction of a multi-product special economic zone over a 580ha area. It further includes the construction of warehouses, storage rooms, distribution channels, production units and access roads, a customs complex, parking and related facilities, and the installation of power related facilities. The project will be developed in two phases:The first phase involves the construction of infrastructure over a 295ha area. The second phase involves the construction of infrastructure over a 285ha area.NDM Proekt Ltd appointed as FEED contractor and UralStroyMontazh and Uralgazstroy as EPC contractor for the first phase of the project. Construction activities on the first phase were completed in third quarter 2016 and construction activities on the second phase are underway. Read More

K Raheja Corp. (KRC) is undertaking an IT Park in Maharashtra, India.The project involves the construction of a 232,257m2 special economic zone (SEZ) on a 12.14ha of land.It includes the construction of meeting rooms, conference facilities, parking and related infrastructure and the installation of elevators, safety and security systems.Jones Lang LaSalle, IP, Inc. has been appointed as Lead Consultant.In April 2016, KRC entered into an agreement with Gera Developments to develop the project. It will be responsible to undertake design, construction and engineering works. Read More

Al Anwar Holdings SAOG (AAHSAOG) and Hormozgan Cement Co (HCC) are planning to build a cement grinding plant in Duqm, Oman.The project involves the construction of a cement grinding plant with a capacity of 600,000 tons to one million tons per annum (MTPA). It includes the construction of grinding units, processing units, control rooms, storage units and related facilities, and the installation of equipment and machinery.On May 1, 2017, AAHSAOG signed a shareholder's agreement with HCC for the project.Stakeholder Information:Planning Authority: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Oman Read More

Syngene International (Syngene), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd, is planning to build a pharmaceutical plant in Mangalore, Karnataka, India.The project involves the construction of a active pharmaceutical ingredients (API’s) and non API manufacturing unit on 16.10ha of land. It includes the construction of a production unit, a processing unit, an administrative space, a laboratory, a storage facility, parking and related infrastructure.In October 2016, the project received environmental clearance from the concerned authority. Read More

ValueLabs LLB (VLL) is planning to build an industrial building in Kokapet, Hyderabad, India.The project involves the construction of an office facility across 3.12ha of land and being developed in two phases with each phase comprising 46,451m2 office space.It includes the construction of a conference hall, meeting rooms, working space, a canteen, parking spaces and access roads and the installation of elevators, security and safety systems.On December 30, 2015, project obtained formal approval from the board. In January 2016, VLL acquired the land for the development. Planning activities on the project are underway. Read More

Kakinada Special Investment Region (KSIR) formerly called as Kakinada SEZ Pvt Ltd (KSEZ), a special purpose vehicle formed by GMR Group, IL&FS and Kakinada Sea Port and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Ltd, is planning to undertake the special economic zone project in Andhra Pradesh, India.The project involves the development of a special economic zone on 4,249ha of land.It includes the construction of a Kakinada deep water port with an investment of US$309 million being implemented in two stages; a bio-diesel plant, an oil refinery and petrochemicals plant, a toy manufacturing Plant, a BPO centre and other infrastructure related facilities.CH2M HILL has been appointed as master planner for the project. In July 2013, a draft master plan was prepared for the petrochemicals plant being developed in Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR).In May 2015, KSIR signed a MoU with Guizhou International Investment Corporation (GIIC). GIIC a consortium of three Chinese manufacturing firms will invest US$500 million in developing the infrastructure and various facilities of the project.In August 2015, project secured Environmental impact assessment (EIA) approvals from the Ministry.In January 2017, KSIR signed a MoU with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to set up naphtha cracker unit with a proposed investment of US$6,188 million on 809ha of land, KSIR also signed MoUs with Oil Country Tubular Limited (OCTL), Kamineni Steel & Power, United Seamless Tubulaar, Deepak Phenolics and DCM Shriram for setting up manufacturing facilities with a total investment of US$1,083 million on 222ha of land in Kakinada SEZ Ltd.OCTL is planning to setup processing and threading plant facility on 20ha of land.Land acquisition on some part of the project was completed. Construction works on 9,290m2 toy manufacturing plant of Pals Plush company and Tata Business Support Services (Tata BSS) BPO centre has been completed.Planning activities on the project are underway. Read More

Ministerio de Vivienda, Panama announced plans to develop the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area Development project in Panama City, Panama.The project involves the construction of commercial spaces over one million of land, 20,000 residential units including apartments and houses, retail centers, office buildings, hotels, schools, places of worship, parks and recreational areas, internal infrastructure, water and sanitary systems, pumping stations, electric substations, communications systems, transmission lines, parking places, golf course and other related infrastructure.The project is the development of a special economic zone including residential township along with green places like park and others over 2,500ha of land.The land received SEZ status in 2005 and within two years a private master developer was selected. In July, 2007 London & Regional Panama (LRP), a subsidiary of London & Regional Properties (L&R), a global private real estate development firm, won the bid for the 40-year concession for this project.Qatari Diar is appointed as developer on the project.L&R committed to invest a minimum of US$408 million over the first eight years of the project, of which US$20 million was paid up front, and a minimum of US$100 million for each eight-year period afterward for this project.Atkins was the conceptual designer and overall masterplanner for this project. Hargreaves Associates was the landscape architecture and urban planners and designers are Ware Malcomb, MVE Pacific and Perkins+Will. The main general contractors for this project are Constructora Cali S.A, MECO and others. Group Montenegro works as the flex buildings general contractor for this project.Construction works are underway. Some parts of this project has been completed and the overall project will be completed in 2023. Read More

Ganesh Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (GIP) is undertaking the construction of IT SEZ in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.The project involves the construction of a 15,979m2 IT SEZ development. It includes the construction of office facilities, administrative space, a cafeteria, a gym, two training centers, a lounge, a restaurant, a florist shop, a pharmacy, a medical care facility, a daycare center, parking and related infrastructure, and installation of safety systems.On March 22, 2016, construction works commenced and expected to be completed by March 2018. Read More

Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) is undertaking the construction of a Quaid-i-Azam Apparel Park project in Punjab, Pakistan.The project involves the construction of an apparel park on 632.1ha land. It includes the construction of production units, processing units, storage facilities, loading and unloading facilities, distribution units, administrative facilities, access roads, parking and related facilities.National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) has been appointed as the study consultant.In April 2014, PIEDMC entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shandong Ruyi Science & Technology Group Ltd (SRSTG) for the development of the project.Under the MoU, SRSTG will provide US$2,000 million towards the development of the park and provide support for designing and construction.In April 2014, PIEDMC invited request for qualification (RFQ) from companies to provide consultancy services with a deadline of May 2, 2014.In September 2014, the government of Punjab acquired a large area of land outside of Lahore to build the proposed project.In June 2015, CNTEX (china firm) was appointed as a consultant to provide technical vetting, improvement in master planning, vetting of detailed design infrastructure works, besides doing the assignments like designing of Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), captive power plant and grid stations for the apparel park.In June 2016, Pakistan's Board of Investment (BoI) has declared the Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park as a Special Economic Zone(SEZ).Construction works on the project commenced in the second quarter of 2016 and are underway.Stakeholder Information:Planning Authority: Planning & Development Department, Government of PunjabAssociated Developer: Shandong Ruyi Science & Technology Group LtdStudy Consultant: National Engineering Services PakistanConsultant: CNTEX Read More

Apollo Tyres Ltd (APOLLOTYRE) is building a tire manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh, India.The project involves the construction of a tire manufacturing plant with a production capacity of three million tires per month (36 million tires per annum) on an 80.9ha land. It includes the construction of production units, warehouses, an administration space and related infrastructure, and the installation of machinery and equipment. The project will be implemented in multiple phases and the detailed information on the phases is yet to be determined.The first phase of the project will be developed with the investment value of US$284 million with production capacity of 5.5 million tires per year (MTPA).On November 10, 2016, APOLLOTYRE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh.On January 9, 2018, the foundation stone was laid for the project.Tender activities are underway with construction works expected to commence by the fourth quarter of 2018 with completion scheduled in 24 months from the commencement date. Read More

K Raheja Corp. (KRC) is planning to develop an IT Park in Maharashtra, India.The project involves the construction of a 232,257m2 special economic zone (SEZ) on a 12.14ha of land.It includes the construction of meeting rooms, conference facilities, parking and related infrastructure and the installation of elevators, safety and security systems.Jones Lang LaSalle, IP, Inc. has been appointed as Lead Consultant.In April 2016, KRC entered into an agreement with Gera Developments to develop the project. It will be responsible to undertake design, construction and engineering works.Planning activities are underway.Stakeholder Information: Planning Authority: Pune Municipal CorporationDeveloper: Gera DevelopmentsLead Consultant: Jones Lang LaSalle, IP, Inc Read More