Advisory
Bring us a mandate
Strategy through delivery for FDI, economic zones and investment led development.
Discuss a mandateImpact Zones
FDI and SEZ advisory,
from strategy to delivery.
Advisory, practical resources and specialist expertise for governments, investment agencies, economic zones and developers.
Advisory · Resources & Tools · Expert Network · Insights
Advisory delivers the mandate. Resources productise the methods. The Expert Network scales specialist access. Insights builds authority across all three.
Three ways to work with us
Resources & Tools
Apply proven frameworks
Editable templates, assessments, playbooks and practical tools for FDI and SEZ professionals.
Browse resourcesExpert Network
Access specialist expertise
Find experienced specialists by geography, sector and technical expertise.
Find an expert25+ years international experience
GCC · Europe · Africa · Asia Pacific
FDI · SEZ · Trade · Supply Chains
What we advise on
How Impact Zones works
1
Strategy
Diagnose the opportunity and the institutional question.
2
Design
Shape the proposition, operating model and delivery plan.
3
Investment
Attract capital, operators and the right kind of demand.
4
Implementation
Stand up the institutions, cadence and first results.
Global Experience
GCC
Investment destination development, economic zone design and attraction programmes for sovereign-backed developments.
Europe
FDI strategy, institutional design and investment facilitation for governments and agencies.
Africa
Economic zone feasibility, operating models and investment attraction for governments and developers.
Asia Pacific
Cross-border trade, supply chains and destination competitiveness for investment agencies and zone authorities.
Featured resources & tools
EDITABLE TEMPLATE · PDF
Economic zone opportunity assessment
Assess whether a location, mandate or zone concept warrants further development.
View resourceEDITABLE TEMPLATE · PDF
Investment attraction strategy playbook
Build a structured investment attraction strategy.
View resourceEDITABLE TEMPLATE · PDF
SEZ development roadmap
Move from concept through strategy, institutional design and implementation.
View resourceExpert Network
Access specialist expertise
Access specialist expertise across markets and disciplines. Search a curated network of FDI, economic zone, investment, trade and development specialists by geography, sector and technical expertise.
From the Work
Why Special Economic Zones Fail, and What Successful Zones Do Differently
Zones fail less often from a missing masterplan than from a missing operating model, a weak investor case, or institutions that cannot deliver what was promised.
The Human Side of FDI: Why Investment Attraction Still Depends on Relationships
Pipelines, CRM systems and sector decks matter. They do not replace the judgement, trust and follow-through that still decide where capital lands.
Supply Chains Are Being Rewritten. What Does That Mean for Investment Destinations?
Nearshoring, friend-shoring and corridor politics are changing where firms put capacity. Destinations that still sell generic incentives will miss the move.
Leadership
Zoë Harries
Founder & CEO
Zoë brings 25+ years in economic zones and investment attraction, with more than six years of established presence and strong relationships in the region. She led investment attraction for a US$20 billion PIF-backed special economic zone in Saudi Arabia. Zoë has held leadership roles with Masdar City Free Zone in Abu Dhabi and the World Free Zones Organization in Dubai, and most recently served as Interim Country Head for Brunei Economic City SEZ. She has contributed to industry discussions as a keynote speaker and author, through fDi Intelligence (Financial Times), Investment Monitor and the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress. Zoë is a member of the Boardroom in Zurich and the Capital Club in Dubai, and a founding member of PLAYBOOK in Bahrain and Riyadh. She also developed the ANCHOR Framework™ on what makes capital, talent and enterprise choose to stay in a place.
Have an investment or economic zone mandate? Discuss it with Impact Zones.
Discuss a Mandate