Abstract
The purpose of the study was to evaluate/examine how Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been successful in Rwanda and South Africa.
Both countries have seen a noticeable increase in SEZs. Therefore, it was of interest to examine how they have been successful.
The study’s approach was qualitative, using a semi-structured questionnaire; all interviews were online because the respondents were in vastly different locations. Senior government officials in South Africa and Rwanda conducted the interviews. Senior SEZ officials were also interviewed, and a significant part of the population was interviewed. The questionnaire had the following main themes: foreign direct investment, export performance, opportunities, and skills transfer. The themes were chosen on the backdrop of what the literature said regarding the establishment of SEZ’s and their impact. These were also the themes used to analyse the responses.
The study’s findings reveal different results from both countries and even within each SEZ location. There is no direct one size fits all to SEZs and each requires a different approach. The success of SEZs is complex but there are key factors agreed on issues that need to be in place for SEZs to be successful, such as good decisive leadership, functional infrastructure, and an effective bureaucracy.
This study will add value in that it will inform governments in Africa about what needs to be done to ensure their success and prioritise key focus areas.