The World Free Zones Organization announced the agenda and list of speakers for the 11th Annual International Conference 2025, hosted by China’s Hainan Province from October 10 to 12, 2025, at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, with the participation of more than 1,500 senior policymakers, business leaders, investors, and free zone experts from around the world.

The conference carries the theme “Free Zones: Gateways to Prosperity, Trade, and Sustainable Innovation Worldwide,” forming the largest and most prominent international gathering of its kind, providing a leading platform for governments, investors, and experts.

The conference will open with keynote speeches by Dr. Mohamed Al Zarouni, President of the World Free Zones Organization, Aiking Fang, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Investment, Umberto De Pretto, Secretary-General of the International Road Transport Union, and Ri Vis Kildjard, Director of the Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition Department at the International Labour Organization.

Integrated System

Dr. Mohamed Al Zarouni said: “Free zones today play an unprecedented role in supporting the global economy, transforming from limited trade centers into integrated systems leading industrial diversification efforts, providing millions of jobs, fostering entrepreneurship, and integrating SMEs into global value chains.”

He added: “More than 3,500 free zones worldwide firmly establish their vital presence by providing over 90 million direct jobs and contributing about 20% of international trade volume, becoming a strategic force shaping the future economy. The international conference in Hainan is a prominent forum to reaffirm the pivotal role of free zones in a world witnessing rapid technological transformations.”

Al Zarouni continued: “Our ambition is not limited to showcasing success stories but extends to drawing a practical roadmap placing free zones at the core as key enablers of innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. Under the conference umbrella in Hainan, we will collaborate with governments, investors, and communities to go beyond short-term gains and build zones capable of global competitiveness, locally integrated, and environmentally considerate.”

BRICS for Economic Zones

The conference hosts the first International Forum for the Development of Comprehensive Free Trade Zones in China, the BRICS meeting for Special Economic Zones, as well as the launch of the Sustainable Zones Accreditation Program developed by the World Free Zones Organization in cooperation with the Beyond the Green Universe Exchange according to ISO 37101 standards (related to sustainable development and improving the performance of cities and communities).