What Lies Ahead for the Zones for Employment and Economic Development in Honduras?

Please join Ryan Berg, Senior Fellow, of the CSIS Americas Program for a virtual discussion about the future of the Zones for Employment and Economic Development (Zonas de Empleo y Desarollo Económico in Spanish, or ZEDEs) in Honduras.

The ZEDEs are a type of special economic zone (SEZ) noteworthy for the high degree of autonomy they grant administrators. Proponents of the ZEDEs contend that these zones can help resolve many of the challenges Honduras faces by generating new jobs, attracting foreign investment, and ultimately accelerating economic development. However, the zones have also been the subject of debate with a recent vote by the Honduran Congress seeking to rescind them. Accordingly, this topic is timely for all those invested in the region’s economic future.

This event will seek to explore the advantages and limitations of the ZEDEs, as well as unpack some of the main sources of controversy surrounding these zones. It will also situate the ZEDEs in a regional context as other countries, especially China, seek to promote their own models of Special Economic Zones throughout the hemisphere.

This event was made possible through generous support from NeWay Capital LLC