Advocacy & policy
Delays to industrial projects are seldom caused by the site itself. They arise from customs procedures, grid connection timelines and incentive regimes applied differently across jurisdictions.
Each country in the region administers its own tax, customs and duty regime for zones. The association documents those differences and advocates for regimes that are predictable and comparable, so that investors can assess zones on a consistent basis.
The benefits of continental free trade depend on rules of origin, customs procedures and border efficiency. We record the operational constraints reported by members and submit them to the departments and regional bodies responsible for implementation.
Zone competitiveness is determined by electricity, water, road and rail capacity. The association advocates for grid connections, bulk services and corridor upgrades to be planned around confirmed industrial demand.
We advocate for training commitments, local supplier development and host community benefit to be embedded within zone policy and investor agreements rather than treated as discretionary undertakings.
Registration, environmental authorisation, work permits and customs licensing remain significant sources of delay. We support the extension of one-stop shop arrangements and the publication of service standards for each approval.
Considered individually, a zone is a single line item in a national programme. Considered together, 62 zones represent a regional industrial base, and the association presents that case in national and regional policy processes.
Constituencies we serve
Each constituency brings a different requirement to the region’s industrial zones. The association coordinates between them and carries their position into policy engagement.
