Media ININ Economy We Trust
Media IN/Abu dhabi/ 5th May, 2019 WAM
The Dubai-based World Free Zones Organisation, World FZO, has signed agreements, appointing National Contact Points, NCP, in key countries. These NCP’s will coordinate research, knowledge sharing and information gathering at the local level.
The agreements were signed during the first European Free Zones Summit in Skopje, North Macedonia, where over 350 high ranking officials discussed shared challenges, best practices and new collaborations amongst free zones of the region and beyond.
The summit was organised by Dubai-based World FZO in partnership with the North Macedonia Free Zones Authority between 2nd and 4th May 2019.
World FZO and nine partners also signed agreements, marking the launch of a National Contact Point programme.
The major emphasis during the summit discussions was to tackle topics of future challenges for free zones across continents, as well as potential solutions to support clean trade in free zones and the need to form large associations encompassing all types of free zones.
The Safe Zone certification was introduced in partnership with the World Customs Organization and in consultation with the OECD where they outlined many proposals that the World FZO had put forward to keep trade within free zones transparent and accountable. Several panel participants pointed to the need for close collaboration with host economies, as well as the importance of using the right technologies in compliance and logistics, for free zones to thrive in today’s competitive and global environment.
The Summit aims to bring together major free zone players from European territories to address timely subjects and contribute solutions together to promote their place in the global value chain.
One of the officials commented that ; As a tool for foreign investment, as a conduit to trade, as a solution to prosperous growth and as a framework for better business practices, free zones are unique and are here to stay.
