About Nurzen | SEZ, FDI & Sustainable Development Experts

ABOUT US

Strategic, Sustainable, and Future-Ready Consulting

Born from the fusion of Nurture and Zen, NurZen embodies a philosophy of balanced progress where economic ambition is harmonized with environmental stewardship and social equity. We believe that true development is not just about GDP growth, but about empowering people, protecting ecosystems, and building legacies that last.

From revitalizing urban economies, industrial parks to shaping rural resilience, NurZen partners with public and private sector leaders to unlock economic prosperity and welfare. We help clients navigate complexity with clarity, ensuring that every strategy is grounded in data, driven by purpose, and aligned with sustainability goals.

Nurzen has incorporated the NxtZones brand, bringing the NxtZones model for SEZs into the Nurzen concept. Nxtzones has worked with some of the world's leading zones and promotes a culture of sharing best practice and knowledge to help new and established zones become profitable and be prepared for the next generation of SEZs. Nurzen builds on the success of NxtZones and provides the full SEZ cycle of services, from SEZ vision, feasibility studies including market studies, FDI attraction, demand forecasts, business case, value proposition to investor attraction, governance model and regulatory and incentive framework.

The NurZen model has prosperity and sustainability in its core as interconnect concepts. It combines local knowledge and expertise with international best practice to deliver client focused solutions.

Through our integrated services we can support our clients to take the next steps in their development, and position them to be more resilient for the future and more competitive and impactful in their commercial, regulatory and strategic endeavours.

OUR

FOUNDERS

Dr. Douglas van den Berghe and Dr. Adarsh Varma co-founded Nurzen with a shared vision: to shape sustainable growth pathways that balance economic ambition with environmental responsibility.

Together, they bring a powerful combination of policy expertise, technical rigour, and sustainability innovation, steering Nurzen’s purpose to deliver trusted, long-term value to its partners.

Founders of Nurzen - Adarsh Varma Douglas van den Burghe.webp

Co-Founder | Strategy & Innovation Lead

Dr. Douglas van den Berghe

Dr Douglas van den Berghe co-founder of NurZen and CEO of NxtZones, a new Economic Zone (EZ) model and advisory for the future, customised to a changing global economy, Industry 4.0 and based on the most innovative and best practices of many SEZs around the world. Founder of FDI & SEZ Academy Training Program of ICA: FDIexecutive™ that has successfully been rolled out in numerous countries as well as delivered on behalf of many international organizations like: US State Department, UNESCAP, UNCTAD, UNDP and the OECD. He is also the founder of two B2B tech ventures, both acquired in 2015.

Before setting up his own company, he was a Director at Ernst & Young and an economic affairs officer at UNCTAD.

Douglas is considered one of the leading global experts on FDI, location strategy, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), investment and incentives, and how to develop FDI policies for economic development and increase competitiveness. He has been an advisor to numerous governments and SEZs

Co-Founder | Economic Development Lead

Dr. Adarsh Varma

Dr Adarsh Varma co-founder of NurZen, specialises in economic development, business case analysis and economic appraisals for infrastructure and development projects.

He is particularly interested in solutions that demonstrate positive financial and economic returns.

He has developed business models and strategic cases that capture wider economic, social, environmental and governance benefits to judge the viability of projects.

Adarsh has led numerous SEZ, logistics hubs and industrial park feasibility studies in the UAE, KSA, Oman, Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Jordan, Madagascar and Benin for clients including the World Bank/IFC, Trademark East Africa (TMEA), UK foreign office, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Afriexim Bank.

He specialises in developing project or site value propositions and identifying optimal delivery and funding mechanisms.

OUR APPROACH

Strategic Clarity

Every engagement starts with deep listening and root-cause exploration. We define clear economic and social outcomes, tailored to the local context but aligned with global goals.

Sustainability by Design

Our work is grounded in the belief that sustainability must be embedded, not added. Whether it’s a free zone masterplan or a feasibility study, we align our work with SDGs, ESG benchmarks, and climate commitments from day one.

Institutional Strengthening

From policy advisory to organisational redesign, we build capabilities that endure. Our solutions are co-created with clients, ensuring local ownership and long-term results.

Agile, Multi-disciplinary Teams

We bring together domain experts, economists, planners, and sustainability specialists - creating a responsive, cross-functional approach that adapts to changing realities.

Evidence Led Decisions

We back every recommendation with rigorous research, scenario modelling, and measurable KPIs - helping clients make informed, future-ready choices.