Report on the SEZs in the world: focus on that of Nkok in Gabon
Audio 02:18
Building that houses the Administrative Authority of the SEZ of Nkok, Gabon.
© Wikimedia Commons CC BY SA 4.0 Pascal Darryl
By: Stanislas Ndayishimiye
3 min
“
Special Economic Zones, Catalysts for African Industrialization
” is the title of a report by the Africa CEO Forum and OKAN Partners, a strategy and finance consultancy dedicated to Africa.
The study published on Tuesday, October 12, reviewed the experiences of SEZs around the world and their impact on the development of the countries concerned.
There are flops and successes.
Among these, the Special Economic Zone of Nkok in Gabon, operational for 10 years.
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Two bodies ensure the day-to-day management of the special economic zone of Nkok: the GSEZ for development and the Administrative Authority for all the procedures of investors and companies that set up there.
“
Within the Administrative Authority, there is a one-stop shop.
Today, we have 22 administrations to support all operators in this economic area in issuing their administrative documents.
But also to ensure compliance with the provisions made within the framework of the activities they carry out in this economic space,
”explains Anne Nkene Biyogo, general administrator of this 1,200 hectare space.
A multitude of facilities
Creation of a company in 48 hours, a multitude of facilities, including tax exemptions ... To benefit from the advantages offered by the Special Economic Zone of Nkok, companies must locally sell, at most, 25% of their production, except when there is a greater demand in the country.
"
We are required to meet these needs first before moving on to export, without losing the tax advantages, because here it is a question of public necessity
", says Hervé Ekoué, general manager of Gorilla, installed in Nkok since 2016.
Then he details: “
On importation, we are exempt from customs duties and taxes and we have 10 years during which we do not pay corporate taxes.
If we need a skilled workforce and we don't have it locally, we have the option of bringing in that workforce [from abroad].
That is also an advantage!
"
But a significant loss of revenue for the state, according to the IMF
Mainly focused on wood processing, the Nkok Special Economic Zone also hosts other industries. A success according to Anne Nkene Biyogo: “
In less than 10 years, we have had more than 85 companies in this space with regard to companies in production. There are 9 of those that are under construction today, not counting those that are being created today, so we went beyond our expectations,
”she notes.
About fifty companies were initially planned in 10 years.
Among the companies based in Nkok that have no connection with timber, there is pharmaceutical health, a subsidiary of an Indian drug manufacturer.
But this "success" causes the state to lose significant revenue, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The IMF recommends that the Gabonese government abolish the numerous tax and customs exemption regimes, in particular the one enjoyed by the Special Economic Zone.
Libreville refuses for the moment, arguing that the Nkok area plans to create 35,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030. There are 16,000 today.
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Gabon
Cooperation and Development
Economy Africa