Resource information
They are being hailed as the new Holy
Grail of economic development. The success of special
economic zones (SEZ) in general and specialized ones in
particular (industrial and technology parks) in countries as
diverse as Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland,
Ireland, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and
more recently, China; Korea; Taiwan, China; or Mauritius,
has led several African leaders to launch new similar
initiatives. This paper establishes a common point of
reference for those who believe in the virtues of SEZs,
explains why the many existing ones have not delivered the
expected outcomes, and summarizes the key issues on the
agenda. It then suggests cluster-based industrial parks as
the most effective tool for developing competitive
industries and generating employment, and provides some
practical guidance to development practitioners and
policymakers on the road ahead.
