Airports firm targets SEZs around airfields

Tapiwanashe Mangwiro

THE Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) plans to establish special economic zones (SEZs) around the country’s major airports, starting with the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, as part of a broad strategy to attract investment and drive economic growth.

The strategy would add impetus to the country’s quest to develop into a regional aviation and trade hub.

ACZ’s proposal entails setting up cargo villages, logistics parks and various other commercial infrastructure that could transform Zimbabwe’s aviation landscape and grow its status as a major economy in the region.

The SEZ around the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport would be turned into a “free zone”, which would help attract investment and support the development of logistical and trade facilities.

ACZ chief executive officer Mr Tawanda Gusha spoke on some of the company’s plans.

“We want to create a free zone where the airport and surrounding areas become attractive for investment. Our intention is to promote the development of logistics parks so that there is a movement of goods in and out of the country through that special economic zone. We want to promote the development of cargo (capabilities). We want people to use air cargo.”

Mr Gusha emphasised the significance of establishing cargo facilities to foster a robust air freight sector in Zimbabwe.

The economic zone, he said, was expected to increase air cargo traffic, help reduce transportation bottlenecks, expedite goods movement and boost the export and import of goods.

He said ACZ had already begun discussions with airline operators to attract more freighters, or cargo planes, into the proposed SEZ, in line with plans to develop cargo handling capacity.

Globally, airport-based SEZs have shown strong potential to revitalise domestic economies.

In Dubai, for example, the Dubai South Free Zone around the Al Maktoum International Airport has transformed the region, fostering growth in logistics, e-commerce and aviation industries.

Similarly, the Changi Airport SEZ in Singapore has contributed significantly to the nation’s economic development by attracting multinational corporations and supporting logistics and tech sector investors.

These international success stories provide a model that Zimbabwe intends to emulate.

The proposed SEZs around the major airports would also include key infrastructure such as hotels, shopping malls and even theme parks, creating a vibrant aerocity around the airport.

“When there is activity around the airport and when there is increased business around the airport, obviously that is all contributing to the greater economic development, in line with the provision of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and also, of course, in line with Vision 2030,” Mr Gusha said.

He noted that the SEZs would also create substantial employment opportunities, foster trade and generate positive economic ripple effects not only for Zimbabwe but for the wider region as well.

Dr Prosper Chitambara, an economic expert, sees this as a promising opportunity for Zimbabwe to boost its economic growth and enhance its role in regional trade.

“This SEZ initiative around Zimbabwe’s airports aligns well with Vision 2030’s goal of turning Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy.

“By creating a conducive environment for trade and investment, Zimbabwe stands to attract international interest and broaden its economic horizons,” Dr Chitambara said.

He believes SEZs in the airport vicinity can position Zimbabwe as a logistics and trade hub, a development that would benefit other sectors beyond aviation, including manufacturing and services.

Another economic analyst, Mr Namatai Maeresera, echoed the same sentiments, stating that SEZs had the potential to significantly enhance Zimbabwe’s competitive edge.

“The introduction of SEZs around major airports could catalyse the development of related industries, drive job creation and elevate Zimbabwe’s position in regional and global supply chains,” said Mr Maeresera.

According to him, the SEZs model has already proven successful in various African nations.

An example is Ethiopia’s Bole Lemi Industrial Park in Addis Ababa, which supports local economic growth while integrating the country further into global manufacturing networks.

For investors, the SEZs may offer a range of incentives, including tax breaks, streamlined customs procedures and access to world-class infrastructure.

The incentives may be designed to attract investment and encourage business operations within the zone.

The move aligns with NDS1 and Vision 2030 objectives, seeking to drive economic development by leveraging strategic locations and infrastructure.

ACZ’s ambitious project could turn Zimbabwe into a regional logistics powerhouse in the region, boost trade through enhanced air cargo capacities and encourage new industries around the country’s major airports.

As the SEZ project unfolds, it may well serve as a model for other African nations aiming to leverage their airport infrastructure to enhance regional trade and economic development.