World FZO Congress 2025 to Convene in Hainan

The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) will host its 11th annual World Congress from 10–12 October 2025 at the Hainan International Conference and Exhibition Centre, China. The event is expected to draw more than 1,500 policymakers, business leaders, and free zone practitioners from around the world.

Held under the theme “Zones: Gateways to Global Prosperity, Trade, and Sustainable Innovation”, the three-day congress will be the largest and most influential gathering dedicated to free zones and their role in global trade. The event is organised in partnership with the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, highlighting Hainan’s position as China’s flagship Free Trade Port and a key hub of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The opening ceremony will feature keynote addresses by Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of the World FZO; Aiqing Fang, President of the China International Investment Promotion Council; Umberto de Pretto, Secretary-General of the International Road Union; and Rie Vejs-Kjeldgaard, Director at the International Labour Organization.

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The congress programme will include keynote speeches, roundtables, and panel discussions across six tracks. Topics will cover inclusive growth, resilient stakeholder ecosystems, China’s Free Trade Ports transformation, global supply chain shifts, digitalisation through AI and blockchain, and investment megatrends in sustainability and future industries.

Dr Al Zarooni stressed the growing importance of free zones, noting they now account for over 3,500 zones worldwide, generate 90 million direct jobs, and contribute close to 20% of global trade. “The World Congress in Hainan will be a defining platform to reaffirm the transformative role of zones in a world shaped by technological disruption, shifting supply chains, and urgent climate imperatives,” he said.

Major highlights include the Executive Leadership Programme, a high-level Ministerial Meeting on trade facilitation and resilience, the First China Comprehensive Free Trade Zone Development Forum, and the BRICS SEZ Meeting. The event will also see the launch of the World FZO Sustainable Zones Certification Programme, developed with MVGX and aligned with ISO 37101 standards, creating a global benchmark for sustainable industrial parks.

Alongside formal sessions, the congress will offer an exhibition area, networking opportunities, and cultural events aimed at building partnerships and attracting investment. Organisers say the forum comes at a pivotal time for the free zone movement, positioning zones as critical drivers of innovation, sustainability, and inclusive prosperity in the global economy.

Closing Update: The 11th World FZO Congress in Hainan is set to shape the future of free zones, reinforcing their role as engines of trade, investment, and sustainable growth.