Open Zone Map is the world’s first comprehensive attempt at mapping every single Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
This map was created to improve public understanding of SEZs. Our goal is to inspire other researchers studying SEZs to create their own data sets, sparking a knowledge revolution.
All data used in the map is available, for free, to all researchers. To access the data, please email study@openzonemap.com
After the Adrianople Group research team noticed that existing SEZ data was inadequate, they began mapping out the global SEZ ecosystem. Mapping efforts started in September of 2019, and the final map was launched on October 25 2021. The team consisted of 40 researchers and developers. The entire mapping project was funded entirely by the Adrianople Group.
We divided our map into SEZ zone types, loosely based on the World Bank’s 2008 SEZ types and UNCTAD’s 2018 SEZ types.
Specialized Economic Zone : A zone with deep incentives that focuses on a single industry
Diversified Zone : A zone with deep incentives that focuses on a wide variety of industries
Free Trade Zone : A large zone with shallow incentives that focuses on the import and export of goods
Export Processing Zone : A small zone which exclusively has customs and duties incentives
Economic Revitalization Project : A zone that exists to improve the economy of a distressed area, usually through tax incentives
Charter City : A large zone with deep incentives, both a commercial and residential district, and its own school
Foreign Trade Zone : A type of Free Trade Zone which exclusively exists in the US / Canada
Other Zone : Zones that do not fall neatly into any of the above categories
This describes the management of the operating company which manages the SEZ; not the management of the zone itself.
Private : The management company which operates the zone is entirely privately owned
Public-Private Partnership : The management company which operates the zone is a public-private partnership
Public : The management company which operates the zone is entirely government owned
The activity status of the zone, according to its own materials.
Active : The zone was active and had tenants as of January 1 2021
Inactive : The zone was active between 2010 and 2020, but it currently is inactive
Under Development : The zone plans on becoming active, but isn’t yet fully active as of January 1 2021
Thibault Serlet - Director of Research
Katarina Serlet - Head of Product
Herzon Flores - Chief Technical Officer
Aleksa Burmazovic - Assistant Director of Research
Ryan Dixon - Director of Data Entry
Fergal Hourigan - Data Science Director
Ivette Cano - Assistant Head of Product
Deborah Avila - UI / UX Design
Caleb Sousa - Frontend Development
Niza Gonzalez - Launch Team Leader
Sam Lombardo - Research
Kaj Jez - Research
Guillermo Hernandez - Research
Cesar Baez - Research
Michelle Bernier - Research
Robert Whitesell - Research
Moritz Bierling - Research
Dusan Bojkovic - Research
David Djurovic - Research
Arthur Tymkiv - Research
Andriy Yavorskyi - Research
Mika Miyazaki - Research
Jingyi Zhao - Research
Xitong Yu - Research
Shengrao Wu - Research
Siqi Ren - Research
Yu Tao - Research
Xinru Yan - Research
Quentin Pagtakhan - Research
Ugo Stornaiolo Silva - Research
Brady Christianson - Research
Maria Saavedra - Logistics
Nour Boukhary - Design
Sizo Hlope - Design
Preston Martin - Strategy and Leadership
Kai Niedermair - Strategy and Leadership
Francisco Litvay - Strategy and Leadership
Special Thanks:
Patri Friedman
Bradford Cross
Dr. Mark Lutter
Kurtis Lockhart
Alexander Kreindler
Dr. Michael Castle Miller
Alonso Cubillas
Beatriz Costa
Hericles de Melo
James Forster
James Morgan
Joaquín Obes
José Paredes
Joyce Brand
Kovid Bhaduri
Lhexi Valeriano
Nivida Arias
Maria Amare
Adrianople Group is the world’s leading research and business advisory firm with a concentration on Special Economic Zones. Creators of the global SEZ map - Open Zone Map.
