World FZO Congress highlights role of digitisation, sustainability

The World Free Zones Organization's (World FZO) 11th annual World Congress continued on Saturday in Haikou, China, focusing on digitisation and sustainability as drivers of the next generation of free zones.

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The event, hosted at the Hainan International Conference and Exhibition Centre, brought together over 1,100 global decision-makers, business leaders, and experts under the theme "Zones: Gateways to Global Prosperity, Trade, and Sustainable Innovation."

Panels explored the future of trade corridors, the OECD Global Minimum Tax, and how digital transformation and sustainable logistics can reinforce free zones' competitiveness. Sustainability featured prominently, with experts highlighting renewable energy, circular economy models, and green financing as key enablers of the transition to net-zero economies.

A major highlight was the inauguration of the Global Free Zones Research Institute, an independent international think tank aimed at advancing research, policy dialogue, and capacity-building in the free zone sector.

Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of the World Free Zones Organization, said the institute would serve as a global platform for innovation and collaboration, adding, "This milestone reflects our commitment to ensuring that free zones remain engines of diversification, job creation, and long-term sustainable development."

The Institute will provide policy research, training, and consulting to governments and zone authorities worldwide, helping them navigate new economic realities and technological shifts.