FREE ZONE AUTHORITIES

Strengthening governance, competitiveness and institutional coordination.

Rising Zone

FREE ZONE AUTHORITIES

In today’s global landscape, the effectiveness of free zones depends on how well authorities can design competitive regimes, ensure efficient processes, and coordinate a complex ecosystem of public institutions, operators and private sector stakeholders.
 
At Araújo Ibarra, we understand how free zone ecosystems operate in practice. We have supported authorities across multiple countries in assessing competitiveness, optimizing processes, strengthening governance, and aligning key institutions to position free zones as high-performing platforms for investment and trade.

We advise free zone authorities in each country on:

01

Analysis of governance structures and coordination mechanisms between free zones and key ecosystem institutions, including customs authorities, free zone operators, private sector users, investment promotion agencies and central government bodies.

02

Evaluation of the national free zone framework, assessing its level of modernization and alignment with international standards (OECD, WTO, WCO).

03

Assessment of competitiveness and the effectiveness of incentives schemes across the country’s target sectors and industries, in comparison with peer economies.

04

Evaluation of approval processes for free zones and their users, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, transparency and timelines.

05

Review and strengthening of national promotional materials, used by investment and export promotion agencies to improve country positioning and messaging.

Driving global competitiveness through free zones

We believe free zones are key to economic growth and global integration. For over five decades, we have supported governments in more than 50 countries across the Americas and the Caribbean, as well as Africa and Asia, in strengthening policies, regulatory frameworks, and competitiveness strategies.

Authority Advisory ​