Michael Castle Miller

Strengthening Rwanda's Special Economic Zone Regulatory System

Building off our assistance the previous year, Locus Economica returned to Rwanda as part of a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) mission to implement the reforms recommended in our 2015 Report. This assignment focused on upgrading the capacity of...

Making Mexico's Planned SEZs Align with International Best Practices

Making Mexico's Planned SEZs Align with International Best Practices

In 2016 Locus advised the Government of Mexico on the development of its new SEZ program in collaboration with Spanish consulting firm IDOM. We provided best practices for SEZs and case studies on the design of the SEZ administrative framework and investment incentives. ...

Improving the Laws and Institutions Governing Special Economic Zones in Rwanda

Since June 2015, Locus Economica, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, has been advising the Rwandan Ministry of Trade and Industry on its SEZ policy and development of industrial parks.  We have analyzed Rwanda's current legal framework for its SEZs ...

Diagnosing Peru's Special Economic Zones against International Best Practices

The World Bank requested Locus Economica's assistance to analyze Peru's special economic zones (SEZs) and provide policy options in late 2015. Peru has multiple overlapping zones laws, all designed to promote industrialization in key sectors. Four of the country's seven zones are operational and attract investment through a combination of fiscal incentives and duty free treatment of imports.

We assisted the Peruvian government by ...

Modernizing Kenya's Special Economic Zones Law and Regulations

Under multiple assignments for the World Bank since 2013, Locus Economica has been working closely with the Kenyan Ministry of Industrialisation and Enterprise Development and with Parliament to help facilitate the drafting of a new special economic zones law and implementing regulations.  The law represents a critical departure from...

Zones as Engines of Opportunity for Migrants and Host Communities

Locus Economica is pleased to support the NGO Refugee Cities as a preferred cause this holiday season. Refugee Cities exists to use zones as a response to the migration crisis.  A refugee city would be a special economic zone (SEZ) in which migrants could legally work, start their own businesses, and train in new skills. ...

Ethiopia Special Economic Zone Policy and Legal Framework

Since 2013, Locus Economica has been working under a World Bank contract to assist the government of Ethiopia with the development of its new Industrial Park program.  Specifically, Locus Economica has: Helped draft a new Industrial Park Proclamation ...

Leveraging Lao SEZs to Promote Regional Integration and Attract Investment

The government of Laos has requested that Locus Economica assist it with the development of its new special economic zone program as part of a technical assistance package from the Government of Germany (GIZ). We have been helping identify fundamental market gaps in Laos and evaluating how SEZs can address those gaps.  ...

Harnessing Global Opportunities through Special Economic Zones in Pakistan

In 2015 the Punjab Board of Trade and Investment and the Pakistani Ministry of Commerce reached out to Locus Economica for assistance on revisions to its special economic zones (SEZ) program.  Working in coordination with the World Bank Jobs and Competitiveness Program, we led workshops with Pakistani government officials, consulted with stakeholders on the context and priorities for the zones program, and thoroughly reviewed and gave recommendations on Pakistan's current SEZ policy, laws, institutions, and plans for specific sites. 

Harnessing Private Sector Capabilities to Improve the Performance of Lesotho's Industrial Zones

Locus Economica assisted the government of Lesotho with attracting private-sector involvement in the development and management of industrial zones in early 2015.  Working under contract with our partner, Buro Happold, we assessed the economic feasibility of various public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements. ...

Stimulating Diversified Economic Growth through Qatar Economic Zones

In 2014, Locus Economica was engaged by Buro Happold, Tanween and Manateq to help advise the government of Qatar on the establishment of three SEZs, each targeting selected industries to help Qatar diversify its economy away from dependence on the oil and gas industries. Qatar Economic Zone (QEZ) 1 will be located ...