Bangladesh Several special economic zones (SEZs) have been established across Bangladesh since the 1980s. Mandated by the
Bangladesh Economic Zones Act, 2010, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) was officially instituted by the government on 9 November 2010. BEZA aims to establish SEZs in all potential areas in Bangladesh including underdeveloped regions with a view to encouraging rapid economic development through increase and diversification of industry, employment, production and export. Bangladesh government has taken an initiative to introduce a hundred SEZ throughout the country. As of March 2016, thirty seven government SEZs have acquired land and are under development. The following Eight EPZs are in operation: • Adamjee Export Processing Zone,
Siddhirganj,
Narayanganj • Chittagong Export Processing Zone,
South Halishahar,
Chittagong • Comilla Export Processing Zone,
Comilla • Dhaka Export Processing Zone,
Savar,
Dhaka • Ishwardi Export Processing Zone,
Ishwardi,
Pabna • Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone,
North Patenga,
Chittagong • Mongla Export Processing Zone,
Mongla,
Bagerhat • Uttara Export Processing Zone,
Nilphamari BEPZA is currently working on
Mirsharai Economic Zone project to expand the opportunities for the investors to invest and create employment in a business-friendly environment.
Cambodia Formally introduced in 2005, there are 22 SEZs in Cambodia as of November 2014. They are listed below followed by the
province in which they are located. • Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ),
Sihanoukville • Sihanoukville Port SEZ, Sihanoukville • Neang Kok Koh Kong SEZ,
Koh Kong • Suoy Chheng SEZ, Koh Kong • S.N.C. SEZ, Sihanoukville • Stung Hav SEZ, Sihanoukville • N.L.C. SEZ,
Svay Rieng • Manhattan (Svay Reing) SEZ, Svay Rieng • Poipet O’Neang SEZ,
Banteay Meanchey • Doung Chhiv Phnom Den SEZ,
Takeo • Phnom Penh SEZ,
Phnom Penh • Kampot SEZ,
Kampot • Sihanoukville SEZ 1, Sihanoukville • Tai Seng Bavet SEZ Svay Rieng • Oknha Mong SEZ, Koh Kong • Goldfame Pak Shun SEZ,
Kandal • Thary Kampong Cham SEZ,
Kampong Cham • Sihanoukville SEZ 2, Sihanoukville • D&M Bavet SEZ, Svay Rieng • Kiri Sakor Koh Kong SEZ, Koh Kong • Kampong Saom SEZ, Sihanoukville • Pacific SEZ, Svay Rieng
China in Shenzhen, it is the Headquarters of the
Tencent group. The most prominent SEZs in the country are
Hainan Province and the cities of
Kashgar,
Shantou,
Shenzhen,
Xiamen, and
Zhuhai. It is notable that Shantou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai are all in
Guangdong Province, and all are on the southern coast of China where the sea is very accessible for transportation of goods.
India situated in
Chennai. States such as
Tamil Nadu and
Haryana are housing a number of under construction SEZ projects. India was one of the first countries in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the
Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Asia's first EPZ set up in
Kandla in 1965. In order to overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000. A comprehensive draft SEZ Bill was prepared after extensive discussions with the stakeholders. A number of meetings were held in various parts of the country both by the Minister for Commerce and Industry as well as senior officials for this purpose. The draft SEZ Rules were widely discussed and put on the website of the Department of Commerce. Around 800 suggestions were received on the draft rules. SEZ Act provides for customs duty on services cleared into
DTA.It was hoped that the bill would instill confidence in investors and signal the Government's commitment to a stable SEZ policy regime. Thereby generating greater economic activity and employment through their establishment. The Special Economic Zones Act was passed by the Government of India in May 2005, it received Presidential assent on the 23rd of June, 2005. While introducing the act, then prime minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, said:“SEZs are here to stay”. The bill came into effect on 10 February 2006, providing for drastic simplification of procedures and for single window clearance on matters relating to central as well as state governments. The remaining part of India, not covered by the SEZ Rules, is known as the
Domestic tariff area. Exports from Indian SEZ totalled INR 2.2 Trillion in 2009-10 fiscal. It grew by 43% to reach INR 3.16 Trillion in 2010-11 fiscal. Indian SEZs have created over 840,000 jobs as of 2010-11. Exports through Indian SEZs grew further by 15.4% to reach INR 3.64 Trillion (roughly US$66 billion). As of 2011-12 fiscal, investments worth over US$36.5 billion (INR 2.02 Trillion) have been made in these tax-free enclaves. Exports of Indian SEZs have experienced a growth of 50.5% for the past eight fiscals from US$2.5 billion in 2003-04 to about US$65 billion in 2011-12 (accounting for 23% of India's total exports). Special Economic Zone as per Central Sales Tax, 1956 --> A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a geographically bound zone where the economic laws relating to export and import are more liberal as compared to other parts of the country. These are like a separate island within the territory of India. SEZs are projected as duty-free area for the purpose of trade, operations, duty, and tariffs. SEZ is considered to be a place outside India for all tax purpose. Within SEZs, a unit may be set-up for the manufacture of goods and other activities including processing, assembling, trading, repairing, reconditioning, making of gold/silver, platinum jewellery etc. As per law, SEZ units are deemed to be outside the customs territory of India. Goods and services coming into SEZs from the domestic tariff area or DTA are treated as exports from India and goods and services rendered from the SEZ to the DTA are treated as imports into India. The objectives of SEZs can be explained as: • Generation of additional economic activity; • Promotion of exports of goods and services; • Promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources; • Creation of employment opportunities; • Development of infrastructure facilities. The incentives and facilities available to SEZ developers include: • Exemption from customs/excise duties for development of SEZs for authorized operations approved by the BOA. • Income Tax exemption on income derived from the business of development of the SEZ in a block of 10 years in 15 years under Section 80-IAB of the Income Tax Act. • Exemption from minimum alternate tax under Section 115 JB of the Income Tax Act. • Exemption from dividend distribution tax under Section 115O of the Income Tax Act. • Exemption from Central Sales Tax (CST). • Exemption from Service Tax (Section 7, 26 and Second Schedule of the SEZ Act). There were about 143 SEZs (as of June 2012) operating throughout
India, by February 2016 this had risen to 187. 634 SEZs have been approved for implementation by the
Government of India (as of June 2012).
Indonesia There are 25 Special Economic Zones in Indonesia that have been approved.
Approved •
Tanjung Lesung SEZ •
Sei Mangkei SEZ •
Palu SEZ •
Bitung SEZ •
Morotai SEZ •
Mandalika SEZ •
Maloy Batuta Trans Kalimantan SEZ (MBTK) •
Tanjung Kelayang SEZ •
Sorong SEZ •
Arun Lhokseumawe SEZ •
Galang Batang SEZ •
Singhasari SEZ •
Likupang SEZ •
Kendal SEZ •
Batam Aero Technic SEZ (BAT) •
Nongsa SEZ •
Lido SEZ •
Gresik SEZ •
Sanur SEZ •
Kura Kura Bali SEZ •
Tanjung Sauh SEZ •
Setangga SEZ •
Banten International Medical, Education, and Technology SEZ •
Batam International Medical and Tourism SEZ •
Batang Industropolis SEZ Planned •
Nipa SEZ •
Bungku Green Industry SEZ •
Sidoarjo Halal Industry SEZ •
East Kutai Chemical Industry SEZ •
Patimban SEZ •
Subang SEZ •
Mangkupadi SEZ Iran Iran's interest in free trade and special economic zones can be traced back to the 1970s. According to
SOAS's Hassan Hakimian, "the FTZs are more ambitious in their objective of acting as magnets for the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and ultimately for generating a diversified industrial base and promoting Iran's non-oil exports, the SEZ are conceived for goods transit and improving the supply and distribution networks in the country." • Arg-e-Jadid Special Economic Zone: Vehicle Manufacturing Hub. • PetZone: Petrochemical special economic Zone,
Bandar-e Mahshahr. •
Kish: Kish island special economic zone. • KSEZ(Kaveh special economic zone) •
Sarakhs Special Economic Zone • Sirjan • Shahid Rajaee Port *
Amirabad Special Economic Zone • Bushehr Port • Payam Special Economic Zone, closest SEZ to the capital city
Tehran, with 3600 hec. area within 10000 hec. of
Payam International Airport territory established in
Karaj for development of air cargo and postal transportation, storage of goods, cold store, packing services, goods productivity, perishable and time sensitive goods export. Payam is the only SEZ in the region with the privilege of its own airport and
airline. Adjacent to industrial, economical and agricultural center of Tehran, with easy access to railroad, underground and other related highways. In order to attract
FDI Payam has created equal opportunity and possibility of investment for Iranian and foreign subjects on every scale of partnership, in addition guarantee foreign investment according to attraction and protection law of foreign investments and freedom of invest transfer and obtained income of it, with no administrative encumbrance laws. Furthermore, there is free entrance, without customs duties for goods, machinery and row material until it has been stationed in the zone, with possibility to export goods from zone without customs formalities.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180219064829/http://pasc.ir/ • Abadan •
Astara • Persian Gulf Mining and Metal Industries Special Economic Zone.P.G.S.E.Z. is located at km 13 of Shahid Rajaei Highway at the west of Bandar Abbas. It was established with the name of Mines and Metals Special Economic Zone on Jan. 14, 1998. Based on the decision made by the Council of Ministers, it changed to Persian Gulf Mineral and Metal Special Zone. On March 6, 2005 "Economic" was added and in early 2009, it charged into Mineral and Metal industries Economic Zone. The purpose of establishment of the zone has been providing conditions for absorption of domestic investment and foreign and conducting them toward establishment of industrial and mineral units, energy- intensive industries, processing of minerals and economic growth and development, increasing job opportunities, increase and development of modem technologies in the field of production, managerial skills, improving the quality of products and increase in the export capability for the purpose of competition in Global Markets are among the objectives being drawn.
Lao PDR The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has promoted the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) since 2003 as a strategic tool to drive economic growth, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and support the country's modernization efforts. As of 2025, there are 12 approved SEZs in the country. While SEZs have contributed to infrastructure development and job creation, several projects have sparked controversy due to concerns over land rights, environmental impacts, and the socio-economic consequences for local communities, as well as allegations of illegal activities that may be occurring within some zones. • Boten Beautiful Land Special Economic Zone (BSEZ),
Luang Namtha Province •
Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ),
Bokeo Province • Luang Prabang Special Economic Zone (LSEZ),
Luang Prabang Province • Saysettha Development Special Economic Zone (SDZ),
Vientiane Capital • Thatluang Lake Special Economic Zone (TLSEZ), Vientiane Capital • Longthanh-Vientiane Special Economic Zone (LVSEZ), Vientiane Capital • Dongphosy Special Economic Zone (DEZ), Vientiane Capital • Vientiane Capital Industrial and Trade Area, Vientiane Capital • Phoukhyo Special Economic Zone (PSEZ),
Khammouan Province • Thakheak Special Economic Zone (TSZ), Khammouan Province • Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone (SSEZ),
Savannakhet Province • Champassak Special Economic Zone (CSEZ),
Champassak Province Malaysia •
East Coast Economic Region (ECER) •
Iskandar Malaysia (IM) • Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) •
Forest City Special Financial Zone (SFZ) •
Malaysia Vision Valley (MVV) •
MSC Malaysia •
Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER)
Myanmar Special economic zones (), which offer tax exemptions for different sectors (5 years for production, 8 years for high-tech, 2 years for agriculture, livestock breeding and forestry, and 1 year for banking) are undergoing preliminary construction in
Sittwe Township and
Kyaukpyu Township in
Rakhine State. An international standard airport is also to be constructed. The six free trade zones will be
Thilawa Port in Yangon,
Mawlamyine in Mon State,
Myawaddy and
Hpa-an in Kayin State,
Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State and
Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay Region. According to the country's Special Economic Zone Law's Act 7, Section 36, homes and farming properties located on a proposed SEZ must be duly relocated and reimbursed. The
Myanmar Port Authority has been involved in facilitating contracts to develop Myanmar's Special Economic Zones, including a US$8.6 billion deal to develop a deep sea port at
Dawei called the
Dawei Port Project, by
Italian-Thai Development).
Nepal In Nepal SEZs laws were formulated in 2016 in the form of Special Economic Zone Act (2016). The laws were subsequently revised in 2019. The industries inside the Special Economic Zones are given various facilities and in return they have to commit to export a minimum of 60% of their production to the foreign market.
North Korea The
Rajin-Sonbong Economic Special Zone was established under a
UN economic development programme in 1994. Located on the bank of the Tumen River, the zone borders on the
Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (or, Yeonbyeon in Korean) of the
People's Republic of China, as well as Russia. In 2000 the name of the area was shortened to
Rason and became separate from the
North Hamgyeong Province. In 2013 and 2014 a number of smaller special economic zones were announced covering export handling, mineral processing, high technology, gaming and tourism. North Korea also used to operate
Kaesong Industrial Region in conjunction with
South Korea from 2002 until 2016. The
State Academy of Sciences operates a special economic zone near Unjong Park in the northern suburbs of
Pyongyang. North Korea designated over a dozen new special economic zones in 2013 and 2014.
Pakistan Taking the example of the Chinese success with their SEZs, China is helping Pakistan develop the RUBA SEZ on the outskirts of Lahore. RUBA SEZ PVT LTD is a subsidiary of RUBA Group of Companies and was expanded from existing Haier – RUBA Economic Zone. Other economic zones include the China-Pakistan economic zone open only to Chinese investors in
Gwadar,
Pakistan. There are talks of creating a Japanese city for investors from Japan only. There has been new SEZ proposed on the under-construction Sialkot-Lahore motorway; Qatar has proposed an investment for $1 billion in a new SEZ along the motorway. There is a new zone under construction in Faisalabad, which will be the biggest industrial estate of Pakistan when complete. It has sections for each country and the first phase is complete with a special Chinese zone in it. Special economic zones in Pakistan: •
Karachi Export Processing Zone,
Karachi,
Sindh •
Risalpur Export Processing Zone,
Risalpur •
Sialkot Export Processing Zone,
Sialkot,
Punjab •
Gujranwala Export Processing Zone,
Gujranwala,
Punjab •
Khairpur Special Economic Zone,
Khairpur,
Sindh •
Rashakai Special Economic Zone,
Rashakai,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa • Gadoon Special Economic Zone,
Swabi,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa •
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Special Industrial Zone, Benazirabad • Hathar Special Economic Zone,
Haripur,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa •
Quaid e Azam Business Park,
Sheikhupura,
Punjab •
Gwadar Special Economic Zone,
Gwadar,
Balochistan Philippines Philippine economic zones (ecozones) are collections of industries, brought together geographically for the purpose of promoting economic development. These ecozones were established through Republic Act No. 7916, otherwise known as "The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995" as amended by Republic Act No. 8748. Philippine Ecozones are generally administered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority through a board (PEZA Board), attached to the Department of Trade and Industry. The PEZA Board sets the general policies on the establishment and operations of the Ecozones, industrial estates, export processing zones, free trade zones, and the like. They also review proposals for the establishment of Ecozones, which they subsequently endorse to the president of the Republic of the Philippines. In addition, the PEZA Board regulates and undertakes the establishment, operation and maintenance of utilities, other services and infrastructure in the Ecozone, such as heat, light and power, water supply, telecommunications, transport, toll roads and bridges, port services, and the like. These incentives include income tax holidays; zero percent (0%) duty on importation of capital equipment, spare parts, and accessories; exemption from wharfage dues and export tax, impost or fees; and the simplification of customs procedures, among others. In addition, The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 exempts business establishments operating within Ecozones from all taxes. In lieu of paying all other taxes, business establishments are only required to pay five percent (5%) of their gross income to the national government. Activities Eligible for PEZA Registration and Incentives include but are not limited to (1) Export Manufacturing; (2) Information Technology Service Export; (3) Tourism; (4) Medical Tourism; (5) Agro-industrial Export Manufacturing; (6) Agro-industrial Bio-Fuel Manufacturing; and (7) Logistics and Warehousing Services. Although designed to operate separately from the political and economic milieu of surrounding communities, Philippine economic zones do in fact interact with their neighbors. As of 31 May 2010, there were more than 200 Ecozones in the Philippines. Of these more than 200 Ecozones, seven (7) are Agro-Industrial Economic Zones, 134 are Information Technology Parks and Centers, 65 are Manufacturing Ecozones, two (2) are Medical Tourism Parks/Centers, and nine (9) are Tourism Economic Zones. Of the 41 private economic zones, the biggest exporter is Gateway Business Park in General Trias, Cavite and the second biggest private ecozone is Laguna Technopark Inc. The four governmentally owned are
Cavite Economic Zone,
Bataan Economic Zone,
Mactan Economic Zone and
Baguio Economic Zone. Some of the more well-known Economic zones are the Clark Special Economic Zone, and Subic Economic Zone, former military bases of the United States of America. Some of the over 200 SEZs in the Philippines are as follows: •
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (76.59 hectares) •
Clark Special Economic Zone (29,365 hectares) •
Freeport Area of Bataan (1,742.48 hectares) • PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority •
Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (16,119.56 hectares) •
Cagayan Special Economic Zone • Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (
APECO) • Light Industry & Science Park I, II, & III (272.22 hectares) • Laguna Technopark (289.95 hectares) • Laguna International Industrial Park (34.88 hectares) • Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park (142.04 hectares) • Keppel Philippines Marine Special Economic Zone (22.92 hectares) • Filinvest Technology Park - Calamba (51.07 hectares) • Carmelray Industrial Park I&II - Calamba (CIP I 60.86 hectares; CIP II 143.03 hectares) The Saudi government announced the creation of four new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in various parts of the nation in 2023. List of SEZs in Saudi Arabia: • King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) SEZ • Jazan SEZ • Ras Al Khair SEZ • Cloud Computing SEZ, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
South Korea Korean FEZs are designated by law to facilitate foreign investment, and thereby to strengthen national competitiveness and seek balanced development among regions by improving the business environment for foreign-invested enterprises and living conditions for foreigners. There are eight Free Economic Zones in South Korea. The first three zones were created in 2003 and three more were created in 2008. In 2013, the East Coast and Chungbuk Economic Zones were declared. •
Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) in 2003 •
Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone (BJFEZ) in 2004 •
Gwangyang Free Economic Zone (GFEZ) in 2004 •
Saemangeum Free Economic Zone (SGFEZ) in 2008 •
Yellow Sea Free Economic Zone (YESFEZ) in 2008 •
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone (DGFEZ) in 2008 •
East Coast Free Economic Zone (EFEZ) in 2013 •
Chungbuk Free Economic Zone (CBFEZ) in 2013
Thailand Thailand has SEZs in the following provinces: • Bordering
Cambodia :*
Sa Kaeo Province :*
Trat Province • Bordering
Laos :*
Chiang Rai Province :*
Mukdahan Province :*
Nakhon Phanom Province :*
Nong Khai Province • Bordering
Malaysia :*
Narathiwat Province :*
Songkhla Province • Bordering
Myanmar :*
Kanchanaburi Province :*
Tak Province Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) estimates that in 2015, 20-25 percent of Thailand's exports were accounted for by border trade. The BOI identifies 13 Thai industries that benefit from SEZs: agriculture; ceramics; autos; electronics; plastics; gems; furniture; textiles; medical equipment; pharmaceuticals; logistics; tourism; and industrial estates. Companies in target industries will receive an eight-year tax exemption; import duty exemptions on machinery and raw materials; double deductions on transportation costs; cheap electricity and water for 10 years; a 25 percent deduction for facilities construction; faster licensing and permit issuance; improved infrastructure and customs services within the SEZ, and other non-tax incentives. Perhaps the biggest incentive is the exclusive right to use unskilled foreign labour as the Thai workforce is in decline. Because of inadequate infrastructure in the SEZs, the government approved infrastructure development plans for SEZs that saw 2.6 billion baht expended on 45 projects in 2015 and another 79 projects, worth 7.9 billion baht, to be completed in 2016.
Uzbekistan • Navoi Free Industrial Economic Zone - The
Navoi Free Industrial Economic Zone was created on December 2, 2008 in the
Navoi region of the Republic of
Uzbekistan to attract foreign investment. • Jizzakh high-tech industrial park - Uzbekistan and China are working together to jointly establish a SEZ in the central Uzbek city
Jizzakh. This high-tech industrial park will be formally established by March 2013.
China Development Bank will provide a $50 million loan to finance several of the joint projects in the construction, agro-industrial and mechanical engineering sectors. ==Europe==