Under the high patronage of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, Djibouti is hosting the Regional Conference on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on April 21–22, 2025. The event is organized by the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Over the course of two days, delegations from across Africa will discuss how SEZs can drive industrial transformation, strengthen intra-African trade, and attract productive investment.
As the African continent seeks to industrialize and break free from its dependence on raw materials, Special Economic Zones are emerging as key levers. There are more than 200 SEZs across Africa, yet only about 38% are fully operational. The challenge now is to develop SEZs that are aligned with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, capable of generating added value, creating jobs, and boosting regional competitiveness.
“It is true that Special Economic Zones can be a real asset, a real advantage for the structural transformation of African economies, but it is important for each African country to take into account its specificities, whether its strengths, weaknesses, or opportunities, in order to truly integrate these Special Economic Zones into economic policies that are closely aligned with their real needs.”
Lionel Raynald NGOLLE III, Economic expert – Cameroon
For Djibouti, Special Economic Zones represent a strategic pillar. Already, Djibouti’s international free zone contributes more than 20% of the country’s non-hydrocarbon exports. The government hopes to attract more industrial investments through interconnection with regional logistics and port corridors.
“Through logistics infrastructure, Djibouti can strengthen integration with neighboring countries such as Ethiopia and with other African countries. Through logistics infrastructure, connectivity issues will be significantly reduced”
Lionel Raynald NGOLLE III, Expert en questions économiques – Cameroun
While intra-African trade accounts for only 15% of total trade on the continent, the stakeholders gathered in Djibouti aim to make SEZs a catalyst for integration. By harmonizing industrial and fiscal policies, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) hopes to build a dynamic, inclusive, and globally competitive continental market.
