The number of special economic zones in the Western Balkan region has quadrupled over the past decade. SEZs have developed as part of wider investment strategies aimed at boosting manufacturing investment in these economies, which have re-oriented their development strategies from credit and consumption-fueled growth to sounder economic foundations, based on investment and capital accumulation.

1. Co-funded by
the European Union
Special
Economic
Zones in the
Western
Balkans
Focus on

2. Special Economic Zones and FDI in the
Western Balkans, 2006-2015
2OECD Global Relations South East Europe
Source: Data from zone authorities compiled by the OECD.
8
10 10
14
16 16
24 24
36
42
EUR 805
EUR 1 172
EUR 1 535
EUR 1 712
EUR 1 855
EUR 2 122
EUR 2 200
EUR 2 483
EUR 2 632
EUR 2 840
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Total number of zones in the Western Balkans
Inward FDI stock, EUR per capita, Western Balkans

3. The Expansion of Special Economic Zones in the region,
2006-2015
3OECD Global Relations South East Europe
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
N of zones
4 new zones in FYROM
3 new zones in Kosovo*
5 new zones in FYROM
3 new zones in Serbia
1 new zone in FYROM
2 new zones in Serbia
3 new zones in Albania
2 new zones in FYROM
1 new zone in Serbia
Source: Data from zone authorities compiled by the OECD.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99 and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo’s
declaration of independence.

4. Special Economic Zones: Data Highlights
4OECD Global Relations South East Europe
Source: Data from zone authorities compiled by the OECD.