Asian Development Bank Special Economic Zones for Shared Prosperity

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Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines need to bolster cooperation in their special economic zones (SEZ) to spur sustainable growth. This publication maps out and assesses the economic performance of SEZs across the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area. It highlights challenges they face including growing competition for foreign investment, international trade disputes, and digital transformation. The publication emphasizes the need for policy makers and stakeholders to intensify strategic collaboration to make their SEZs more competitive. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, it outlines practical steps to increase the role of SEZs in boosting trade, creating jobs, and building economic resilience across the four countries.