DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- The World Free Zones Organization will host its 11th annual World Congress from 10-12 October 2025 at the Hainan International Conference and Exhibition Centre, in partnership with Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development (IEDB).

Held under the theme “Zones: Gateways to Global Prosperity, Trade, and Sustainable Innovation”, the Congress will serve as the largest and most influential gathering of its kind, offering a dynamic platform for governments, investors, and industry experts to address the pressing issues shaping the future of global trade and investment.

The Opening Ceremony will feature keynote addresses by Dr Mohammed Alzarooni, Chairman of 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 of the Department of Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity.

The Congress will feature keynote speeches, panels, roundtables, case studies, and leadership sessions addressing key issues facing free zones today. It will explore economic and social contributions of zones to inclusive growth, the importance of building resilient stakeholder ecosystems, the transformation of China’s Free Trade Ports with a focus on Hainan as a global model, and the evolving pathways of global exchange in an era of fragmented trade and supply chain realignment.

Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni said: “Free zones are more relevant to the world economy than ever. What began as trade enclaves have evolved into complex ecosystems that stimulate industrial diversification, create employment, nurture entrepreneurship, and integrate small and medium-sized enterprises into global value chains. Today, more than 3,500 freezones worldwide generate over 90 million jobs and contribute close to 20% of global trade. The 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.”

The agenda will feature milestone events, including Executive Leadership Programme, a high-level Ministerial Meeting concluding with a ministerial communiqué that sets out actionable strategies for future. It will include the First China Comprehensive Free Trade Zone Development International Forum, the BRICS SEZ Meeting, and launch of World FZO’s Sustainable Zones Certification Programme.