Shanghai Hosts World FZO Meeting

UAE– November 26, 2016 – China Shanghai (Pilot) Free Trade Zone recently hosted the Board Meeting of World FZO in Waigaoqiao Free Zone, one of the biggest free zone in the world. The meeting chaired by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of the World FZO, in the presence of Mr. Li Zhaojie, Board Member and Head of China Shanghai (Pilot) Free Trade Zone and other board members representing different regions of the world. In this meeting, the Board endorsed the inclusion of 37 new members to the ranks of the World FZO. This brings the total membership of World FZO to 255 members from 63 countries.
 
Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of the World Free Zone Organization said: “The 37 new free zones are first-rate additions to our association community which come in line with the organization’s ambitious vision of collectively addressing future challenges and enabling learning through knowledge sharing as the heart of sustainability and success for free zones moving forward. The World FZO will continue to be the platform for strengthening the role of free zones as key contributors to socio-economic development and sustainability and to encourage international efforts to raise the sector to new levels of excellence and leadership.”
 
The Board of Directors reviewed the report from the Chairman, the CEO and heads of committees. It also discussed the 2017 budget and the election of directors at the next General Assembly Meeting in Cartagena, Columbia in May next year. Under the Articles of Association, the members of the World FZO can nominate their candidates to stand for election to the Board in the next General Assembly meeting in May next year.
 
The board meeting agenda also included an update of the past six months’ activities including details about four key projects; The Free Zone of the Future initiative; The Free Zone Outlook report, The Safe Zone certification; and The Executive Education program.
 
The meeting concluded with an agreement for the next Board meeting to take place during the 3rd Annual International Conference and Exhibition and on the side line of the General Assembly meeting taking place in Cartagena, Colombia 3-5 May 2017.
 
The World FZO also organized a workshop for Chinese Free Zone’s in Shanghai. The workshop was inaugurated by H.E. Zhang Wansheng, Vice President of China Free Trade Zone and Export Processing Zone Association.
 
Forty-five senior officials from 18 Free Zone’s attended the workshop which included a case study on DAFZA and on Georgia Free Trade Zone in the US. The workshop also covered sessions on Innovation of Chinese Free Zones and Next Generation of Free Zones.