Hainan hosts first China edition of Global Free Zones congress amid rising role in trade and innovation
The World Free Zones Organisation (World FZO) is set to host its 11th annual World Congress from 10 to 12 October 2025 at the Hainan International Conference and Exhibition Centre in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, China. This marks the first occasion the congress will take place in China, underlining the country’s rising prominence in the global network of high-standard free trade zones. The event is organised in partnership with the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development (IEDB) and expects to draw over 1,500 participants from more than 70 countries and regions.
The congress will convene under the theme “Zones: Gateways to Global Prosperity, Trade, and Sustainable Innovation,” positioning itself as the premier global platform for governments, investors, and industry leaders to discuss transformative trends shaping the future of trade, investment, and economic innovation. Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of World FZO, emphasised the growing significance of free zones in today's interconnected economy. “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,” he said during the 10th congress held earlier in 2025 in Dubai. According to World FZO, more than 3,500 free zones exist globally, generating over 90 million jobs and contributing nearly 20% of global trade.
The agenda for the congress is notably comprehensive, featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, roundtables, case studies, and leadership sessions. Speakers include prominent figures such as 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. Key topics will cover the socio-economic role of free zones in fostering inclusive growth, building resilient stakeholder ecosystems, and supporting sustainable development. A significant focus will be on China’s Free Trade Ports, especially Hainan, showcased as a global model amid shifting global supply chains and fragmented trade environments.
In addition to comprehensive discourse, the congress will feature milestone events such as the Executive Leadership Programme, a ministerial meeting culminating in a communiqué outlining actionable future strategies, the inaugural China Comprehensive Free Trade Zone Development International Forum, and the BRICS SEZ Meeting. A notable highlight is the launch of World FZO’s Sustainable Zones Certification Programme, signalling a growing emphasis on sustainability within the free zones sector.
The choice of Hainan as host reflects its strategic importance. The island province is China’s flagship Free Trade Port and a crucial node in the Belt and Road Initiative, embodying openness and reform. Industry observers, such as the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ), view the congress as an opportunity to spotlight Hainan’s transformation and illustrate how free zones can scale opportunities, enhance economic connectivity, and drive a new era of global cooperation.
The event will also include an extensive exhibition area and a programme of cultural and social engagements, facilitating exclusive networking opportunities for participants. The congress is supported by a memorandum of understanding signed during a high-profile visit led by Dr. Al Zarooni to Hainan in 2024, aimed at establishing the Free Zones Institute to further promote economic growth, innovation, and knowledge-sharing among global stakeholders.
As free zones continue to evolve in a world grappling with technological disruption, shifting trade patterns, and urgent climate challenges, the 11th World FZO World Congress in Hainan is positioned as a pivotal event for stakeholders to reaffirm and advance the role of these zones in sustaining global prosperity.
