Adopted Law on Special Economic Zones

On 6 January 2017, Senegal adopted Law No. 2017-06 on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which provides the general framework for the governance of SEZs in the country. The law includes the following main elements among others:

• Special economic zones are created by decree after the completion of an opportunity study initiated by the Minister in charge of Investment Promotion
• The “Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Major Works” (“APIX-S.A.”) is designated as the entity in charge of the administration and management of the Special Economic Zones
  • The law establishes a governance framework involving the Presidency of the Republic, a joint public-private committee, the Administrator (APIX-S.A.), and the Promoters/Developers
• The law provides for a regime of tax and customs incentives for companies operating in SEZs. Exempt companies (known as zone A) are subject to a corporate tax of 15 per cent on their profits. Tax benefits are granted for a period of 25 years, renewable once, from the date of issue of the exemption company's approval.

The law is part of the Government's strategy to attract FDI, create jobs, develop new growth poles, and rebalance the country's trade balance.

• Type:

  • Promotion and facilitation (Investment incentives, Special economic zones)

• Industry:

  • Not industry specific

• Sources:

  • JOURNAL OFFICIEL DU SENEGAL, Loi n° 2017­06 du 06 janvier 2017 portant sur les zones économiques spéciales (ZES), http://www.jo.gouv.sn/spip.php?page=imprimer&id_article=11005 -------- (https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/sen165640.pdf ), 23 Apr 2017
  • Droite Afrique, Loi n°2017‐06 du 06 janvier 2017 portant sur les zones économiques spéciales (ZES)], http://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/Senegal-Loi-2017-06-zones-economiques-speciales.pdf, 06 Jan 2017