Open Zone Map BETA

Mapping the World's Special Economic Zones

About the Open Zone Map

Project Overview

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

Project History

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.

Zone Types:

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

Management Type:

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

Activity Status:

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

Credits:

  • 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

Visualize our Data:

SEZ Type % by Region

  • Charter City
  • Diversified Zone
  • Economic Revitalization Project
  • Export Processing Zone
  • Foreign Trade Zone
  • Free Trade Zone
  • Other Zone
  • Specialized Zone

Regions and Zone Types

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Top 15 Zone Types Tree Map

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Status by Region Sunburst

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Top 15 Zone Types Tree Map Circles

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