The special economic zone roles and development of local entrepreneurship: the case of Benjamini William Mkapa Special Economic Zone

This study was carried out to assess the special Economic Zone roles and development of local entrepreneurship. The study was carried out in Dar es Salaam and used Benjamin William Mkapa Special Economic Zone as a study area. The general methodology need included literature review on special economic zone and entrepreneurship for secondary data collection. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and interviews and data analysis was conducted by using data analysis tools including SPSS. Findings revealed that there is a weak relationship between special economic zone roles and local entrepreneurship development. The weak relationship was attributed by limited number of investors currently operating I the Benjamin William Mkapa Special Economic Zone and lack of awareness among communities where special Economic Zone is located. It was also found that, entrepreneurs are stakeholders of the Special Economic Zone, since their characteristics are complemented by SEZ roles. The study recommends awareness strategies and skills development strategies be implemented to raise awareness on economic zone roles and community entrepreneurs to benefit thereof. The study further recommends encouragement of joint ventures between foreign firms and local entrepreneurs to develop local entrepreneurship capacity as an urgent task.