Annual World FZO meeting opens in Hainan

The World Free Zones Organization's 11th annual World Congress opened Friday in Haikou, Hainan province, bringing together global leaders and stakeholders in trade and investment.

The three-day event aims to explore the role of free zones and special economic zones in global growth by building on discussions from last year's congress in Dubai. The agenda focuses on sustainable innovation, digital transformation, and future trade strategies.

The opening ceremony drew more than 1,100 attendees, including business leaders, free zone officials and representatives from international organizations.

Feng Fei, Party secretary of Hainan province, delivered the opening speech, wherein she emphasized Hainan's strategic role in advancing global trade cooperation and innovation.

World FZO Chairman Mohammed Al Zarooni also addressed the audience. "We stand at a pivotal juncture for free zones and special economic zones around the globe," Al Zarooni said. He noted that the zones have evolved beyond traditional roles to become drivers of innovation and sustainability.

A ministerial meeting on the first day gathered more than 30 delegations to discuss global economic cooperation. The session concluded with a Ministerial Communique urging stakeholders to pursue coordinated and tech-enabled trade strategies.

The opening ceremony also featured the launch of the One Zone Platform, a digital ecosystem for the organization's 1,600 members in more than 140 countries. The platform uses AI-powered tools to facilitate member engagement and knowledge sharing.

The congress features six program tracks addressing challenges and opportunities for free zones, including how they can support national strategies like China's free trade port development.

The World FZO, registered in Switzerland and headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a leading organization in the development of free trade zones.