Day Two of the 11th World FZO Congress Highlights the Role of Digitization and Sustainability in Shaping the Future of Free Zones

HAINAN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 11, 2025--

The World Free Zones Organization’s 11 th annual World Congress continued its agenda today with a focus on the role of digitization and sustainability in the future of free zones and the mechanisms for enhancing their position as strategic trade gateways.

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The day’s sessions featured a series of sessions addressing critical themes such as the digitization of trade corridors, the impact of the OECD Global Minimum Tax, and the role of free zones as regional trade gateways.

Sustainability took centre stage with sessions focusing on the transition to net-zero through renewable energy, circular economy models, and green financing frameworks. Speakers underscored that decarbonization is not only a climate imperative but also a competitive advantage for the next generation of free zones.

The Congress also witnessed the inauguration of the Global Free Zones Research Institute, a pioneering international think tank dedicated to advancing research, policy dialogue, and capacity-building for free zones worldwide.

The Institute’s activities will include conducting research on critical issues facing free zones, providing policy recommendations, organizing expert panels and international exchanges, publishing industry reports, and offering specialised training and consulting services to governments and free zone authorities.

The second day of the Congress witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between six free zones and five economic and technology zones in Hainan Province. The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in cross-border data flows and strengthen the position of the signatories as key hubs in the global digital economy.

The signatories on the free zone side included the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) from the United Arab Emirates, PIROT Free Zone from Serbia, Tatu City Free Zone from Kenya, Luanda Special Economic Zone from Angola, Santa Fiesta Free Zone from Argentina, and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) from Egypt.

From Hainan Province, the signatories included Haikou Jiangdong New Area, Haikou Fosing Industrial Internet Park, Hainan Resort Software Community, Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, and Overseas Returnees Town Lingshui.

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation on cross-border data flows through the development of joint mechanisms that ensure data security and resilience while facilitating the smooth and secure transfer of information between the signatories.

*Source: AETOSWire

Dr Al Zarooni and President of CIRD launching the global institute (Photo: AETOSWire)

MOSCOW (AP) — Syria’s interim leader arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for his second visit in less than four months for talks expected to focus on the future of Russian military bases in the country.

Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa first visited Russia in October. He led a swift rebel offensive in December 2024 that ousted former Syrian President Bashar Assad, who enjoyed Moscow’s support for years as his government fought a devastating civil war.

Russia, which in recent years has been focused on the fighting in Ukraine and kept only a small military contingent in Syria, didn’t try to counter the rebel offensive. It gave asylum to Assad and his family after he fled the country.

Despite having been on opposite during the civil war, the interim government in Damascus has signaled readiness to develop ties with Moscow in apparent hopes it could help rebuild the war-shattered country and offer a way to diversify its foreign policy.

For the Kremlin, it’s essential to keep its naval and air bases on Syria's coast, the only such outposts outside the former Soviet Union that are crucial for maintaining Russia’s military presence in the Mediterranean. Russian authorities have voiced hope for negotiating a deal to maintain the Hmeimim air base and the naval outpost in Tartus.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ahead of the meeting between President Vladimir Putin and al-Sharaa that “all issues related to our military's presence in Syria will be discussed in the talks.”

In recent days, Russian forces have begun pulling out of positions in northeastern Syria in an area still controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces after the group lost most of its territory in an offensive by government forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the grave of his brother, who died as a child during the siege of Leningrad, during a commemoration ceremony at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, where most of the Leningrad Siege victims were buried, marking the 82nd anniversary of the World War II battle that lifted the Nazi siege of Leningrad, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (Alexei Danichev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)