Thibault Serlet is the Director of Research at the Adrianople Group, a business intelligence firm that focuses on Special Economic Zones and master-planned cities. He is also the architect of Open Zone Map, the world’s largest SEZ dataset.
He advises for Pronomos, a VC fund that invests in new city projects and co-founded the Startup Societies Network, a charter cities think tank. He frequently writes about SEZs, economic history, and the open data movement.
TODAY'S CONVERSATION WITH THIBAULT
- If you are a business owner looking for more freedom living as an expat, this episode is for you. Thibault shares with us his biggest reasons and strategies for setting up your company in a special economic zone.
- Is your company facing regulatory problems? I believe you can find a solution, no matter your industry, so keep listening.
- Exactly what is a special economic zone, and why do governments create them?
- Where is the very best place to look for the best special economic zone for your company?
- Interesting facts about when the first special economic zone was created; no, it wasn’t the Shenzhen Zone. Listen to hear the fascinating history behind this concept.
- You’ll be amazed at how these special economic zones work, what they can and can’t do inside their area, and how many there are throughout the world.
- The next question is why? Why would you open an SEZ anywhere in the world? After listening to this episode, your next company may be in an SEZ.
- If an SEZ sounds like a good idea for you and your company, how do you pick the right one? If there are thousands of them worldwide, which one is right for you? Thibault shares his theory on this!
- Wondering what business best suits using an SEZ? I talk to Thibault about this exact thing.
HOW TO REACH THIBAULT SERLET
https://www.openzonemap.com/
https://www.adrianoplegroup.com
http://www.thibaultserlet.com
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192: Building Free Private Cities Around The World – Peter Young
202: What Is A Startup City? – Francisco Litvay
CONCLUSION
This was a very educational and interesting topic for me. I learned a lot, and I hope you’ll take the time to listen in, as I believe it’s a worthwhile discussion to have when you are a business owner and can locate your business wherever you choose. Be creative and do a little bit of research on SEZs. I think you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish.Mentioned in this episode:
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Gold in the Caribbean—No Bank Can Touch It
Fiat is failing. Banks are cracking. And smart investors are moving their gold offshore—outside the system. I’ve partnered with a fully insured private vault in the Caribbean where you can buy, store, and protect physical gold… legally and securely. The entire account opening is done online—fast, private, and no nonsense. If you’re serious about protecting your wealth, get the details now at ExpatMoney.com/gold
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Join Me In Panama For Our Next Tour
I have great news. After many meetings and explanations, the Panamanian government has agreed to keep the Investors Visa at a $300k Real Estate investment instead of nearly doubling the amount required, as they said they would.
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Panama Fly'n Buy Real Estate Tour
No Plan-B Without the Language
If you’re planning to move overseas—or even just set up your offshore Plan-B—learning the local language isn’t optional. It’s protection. It’s access. It’s power. StoryLearning makes it easy to start today, from home, by immersing you in real stories—not grammar drills. Spanish, Portuguese, French, and more—learn the language the smart way before you land. Go to StoryLearningCourses.com.
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