Panama City Hosts 12th World Free Zones Organization Conference Highlighting Free Zones’ Role in Global Trade
Panama City hosted the 12th annual World Free Zones Organization conference, underscoring free zones’ role in trade, sustainability, AI and regional integration.
Conference opens in Panama City with global turnout
Panama’s president José Raúl Mulino formally opened the 12th World Free Zones Organization conference in Panama City, welcoming government and business leaders from more than 70 countries. The gathering, held under the theme “Free Zones in the New Global Operating Model: Challenges and Opportunities,” brought together over 2,000 participants including more than 27 ministers and chief executives of economic zones.
Speakers framed free zones as pivotal to national economic strategies and as engines for investment, industrial development and cross-border integration. The forum underscored the role of these zones in helping companies adapt to a shifting global trade environment.
High-level participation and institutional leadership
The conference drew heads of state, ministers and senior officials, including the president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, and leaders from international organizations and the private sector. Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, president of the World Free Zones Organization based in Dubai, delivered the opening address and outlined the agenda for policy dialogue and technical cooperation.
Delegates represented a wide cross-section of stakeholders: government regulators, zone operators, logistics firms, investors and academic partners. The scale and diversity of attendance reflected growing global interest in enhancing the competitiveness and governance of free zones.
Focus on supply chains, AI and regulatory resilience
Speeches and panel discussions highlighted rapid changes in global trade patterns driven by geopolitical shifts, regulatory demands and technological advances. Organizers stressed the need to redesign supply chains to ensure continuity of trade flows and to make zones more resilient to external shocks.
Dr. Al Zarooni emphasized the accelerating adoption of generative AI for customs operations, logistics forecasting and compliance automation. He argued that technology adoption, paired with clear regulatory frameworks, will be central to improving investor services and operational efficiencies within free zones.
Agreement to create Caribbean special economic zones organization
A significant development at the conference was the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish an organization for special economic zones in the Caribbean. Ministers and senior officials from Caribbean states signed the accord to develop a regional legal and operational framework for collaboration.
The new body is intended to provide a unified voice for the Caribbean in global discussions on special economic zones, promote knowledge exchange, and strengthen long-term public‑private partnerships across the region. Founding members committed to work on governance standards and joint initiatives to attract sustainable investment.
One Zone digital platform receives major upgrade
Organizers announced an expansion of the “One Zone” digital platform, unveiling a redesigned website and a secure member portal. The platform will consolidate services such as accreditation, training modules, advisory services and performance benchmarking into a single digital environment.
Wider connectivity through One Zone is intended to boost knowledge sharing among zone authorities and enable faster dissemination of best practices. Officials said the platform will help standardize metrics and foster greater transparency across the global free zones community.
Executive leadership training integrated with INCAE
The World Free Zones Organization partnered with INCAE Business School to deliver a tailored executive leadership programme for zone CEOs and senior managers, with roughly 700 participants taking part. For the first time, completion certificates issued through INCAE were integrated as digital credentials within the conference programme.
Organizers described the initiative as an effort to professionalize zone leadership and to accelerate capacity building across jurisdictions. The programme aims to equip executives with strategic tools to navigate competition, attract investment and implement sustainable development objectives.
New joint research on tourism-focused special economic zones
The event also featured the release of a comprehensive joint research paper by the World Free Zones Organization and the United Nations World Tourism Organization on tourism‑focused special economic zones. The study, described as the most extensive of its kind, compiles survey results, interviews and case studies from emerging and established models worldwide.
Authors highlight how tourism-oriented zones can be designed to support green growth, diversify local economies and integrate tourism with broader industrial and infrastructure planning. The research provides a practical reference for policymakers crafting next‑generation tourism investment strategies.
Panama’s hosting of the 12th World Free Zones Organization conference reinforced the global view of free zones as strategic assets that extend beyond regulatory tools to become platforms for innovation and long‑term growth. Delegates left with a clear policy agenda: accelerate digital adoption, deepen public‑private collaboration, and tailor zone specializations to attract sustainable industries and resilient investment.