overview of the Manaus Free Trade Zone and Brazilian Amazon: An historical economic development Western Amazon from 2002 to 2014

Given the current environmental and economic-political importance of the Amazon, we seek to analyse and understand the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) in relation to the Western Amazon, the Brazilian Amazon, Brazil, other Amazonian countries and the international community, thus providing an overview of this development model. The choice of the Manaus Free Trade Zone as a case study is due to the specific way in which this geopolitical project developed, creating a regional/national/international industrial hub while simultaneously preventing the exploitation and devastation of the western Amazon rainforest. Data has shown that although the ZFM seeks to be in line with the Federal Government as it has invested in local science, technology and innovation institutions (such as the Amazon Biotechnology Centre - CBA), seeking to internationalise local industry, it has encountered productive, institutional and financial obstacles to the progress of autonomy in the western Brazilian Amazon region, mainly in relation to multinational companies.