Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ)/Benin has made its first exporting of container of garments to USA, the Children Place (TCP) made in Benin.
GSEZ started in 2010 as a joint venture between Olam International Ltd., the Republic of Gabon, and Africa Finance Corporation with a mandate to develop infrastructure, enhance industrial competitiveness, and build a business-friendly ecosystem in Gabon.
It is currently home to 144 investors from 18 different countries sprawling across 1,126 hectares. IIP enabled Gabon to emerge as the largest exporter in Africa and the second largest exporter of veneer sheets (processed wood) in the world.
ARISE IIP provides industrial ecosystems across Africa, contributing to the continent’s industrialisation agenda and enhancing manufacturing competitiveness. Its’ industrial hubs enable the development of more competitive economies and more equitable societies for tomorrow, helping achieve greater income equality. They are driven by the pursuit of green growth; our ambition is to unlock the continent’s industrial potential while neutralising its carbons emissions and climate impact.
The GDIZ is an integrated industrial zone settled on 1640 hectares (ha) and focused on the creation of thriving value chains ranging from the supply of raw materials, the transformation of resources to the export of finished products.
The GDIZ aims to provide investors with a gateway to integrate the African landscape by providing them with infrastructure, an atmosphere conducive to business and supporting them in the promotion of their products through our ecosystem approach.
The GDIZ is strategically located on a highway connected to the Airport and the Autonomous Port of Cotonou (PAC). The GDIZ will be close to the future railway line for better freight management. Additionally, the GDIZ has a one-stop shop, a police station as well as a fire station, among many other facilities.
Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP) is a company specialised in the development of industrial infrastructures and dedicated ecosystems. It develops, finances and operates industrial ecosystems on the African continent.
It designs tailor-made solutions to enable the sustainable and local transformation of raw materials, stimulate exports and promote trade.
An Industrial Zone, where the Unit, after issuance of the Approval to the Investor, is assigned plot for its authorized operations. Unit shall set up and develop manufacturing or production facility for the transformation of products or processing of the raw materials to produce the value-added products.
This also include the various services which is created to support the industrial operations. Units will be labelled as ‘Export Oriented Unit’ or “intra community-oriented Unit” as per the Law.
A Commercial Zone is area equipped with all support facilities developed by SIPI-Benin and which hosts all support services, non-industrial by nature and primarily oriented to services including but not limited to Banking, Finance and Insurance related services, repair and maintenance services, retails, motel, restaurants, custom handling services, other consultancy services etc.
That may be required for industrial operations etc. This zone also has some of the services of the Single Window and the offices of SIPI-Benin.
A Residential Zone is wherein all the support services are provided by the SIPI-Benin to the various types of residential areas development as per the demand including opportunity for the development of social infrastructure to support community facilities like schools, clubs, recreational facility etc.
To showcase GDIZ as ‘Work, Live, Learn and Play’ community, SIPI-Benin may construct and rent out residential villas and apartments of different categories. The provision of these housing units to the Investors and their employees is done according to an adapted scheme to support the industrial operations.
The logistics zone has facilities (for storage and transportation services, facilities), public facilities (for industry and commerce, taxation, customs, commodity inspection, worker facilities, specialized market catering to logistics equipment needs, other service facilities) and related facilities (offices, accommodation, catering and other services facilities, fuel station, motels etc.).
SIPI-Benin shall develop the various subcomponents of the Logistics Zone and lease them to the Investors in the form of bare plots of land as well as developed plots and built-up spaces. The Administrative Authority is responsible for the management of all administrative procedures necessary for the smooth operations of the bonded and non-bonded facilities within the Logistics Zone.
The Logistics Zone can be used by all companies and by all trucks from abroad or from the hinterland to the Zone or the Port.
‘Container Yard’; ‘Dry Ports’; “Inland Container Depots’; ‘Inland Clearance Depots’, ‘Container Freight Station’ are words used interchangeably used to designate the relevant infrastructure for the facility which will be dedicated to the handling of all types of cargo: containerized, non-containerized break-bulk and bulk cargoes for domestic and international trade.
The Container Yard has both a bonded area and as well as a non-bonded area. SIPI-Benin will be able to collaborate with port authorities and shipping companies to develop processes and systems, including modern technologies, to increase Port efficiency through efficient management of trucks to the Port.
SIPI-Benin shall develop packaged value-added services along with standard tariffs and implement the same on pay-and-use basis for all the Units and the Users and Users.
