On October 29, 2019, Zhuhai, the
3rd World Free Zone (Hengqin) Summit with the theme of “Open Innovation, Interconnection”
was grandly opened in Zhuhai, Guangdong by World Free Zones Organization Regional Office China.
The summit attracted more than 180 audiences from China free trade
zones, overseas free zones, academic research institutes, and
enterprises, which made the event success.
The organizer invited several
heavyweight special guests to deliver keynote speeches in the main forum. The VIP guests included: 1) Mr. Chen
Guangjun, member of the party committee of the Guangdong provincial department of commerce and
deputy director of the provincial pilot free trade zone
office; 2) Abdulla Qassem,
deputy CEO of the
World Free Zones Organization (World FZO); 3) Zhao Xiaolei, the Dean and Professor of the
Institute of Free Trade Zone of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics;
4) Mao Yanhua, Associate Dean of the Institute of Free Trade Zone, Sun Yat-Sen
University; 5) Dr. Mohan Guruswamy, the Chief Knowledge Officer of the World FZO; 6) Johnny
Victor Malek, the marketing consultant of the Dubai Airport Free Zone; 7) Lai
Siqing, the director of Nigeria Lekki Free Zone; 8) Chantal Poiret, the
exclusive advisor to the CEO of E&D; 9) Peter Kengemar, the project
director of the Ihu special economic zone project.
In the main forum, guest
speakers shared their experience & discussed the advanced free trade zone
planning, zone management, top-level design, leadership training, and
multi-dimensional development elements of FTZ, base on the situation of the
China free trade zones. Up to now, the
number of pilot free trade zones in China has reached 18, reflecting the firm
determination of China to further expansion & opening up.
"We observed the global
challenges among free trade according to the current global trend. The
innovation of systems in the pilot free trade zone is well adapted to the
changes in today's market. We must recognize the contribution of the free trade
zones to the world economy. The World FZO needs to continuously upgrade its role to
enhance the connection between free zones globally. We will continue to defend
the interests of our members, with the OECD, the World Trade Organization, and
the World Customs Organization to maintain cooperation and discussion,"
Abdulla Qassem, deputy CEO of the World FZO, said in his speech.
The World Free Zone (Hengqin)
Summit has been successfully held for three consecutive years. It acts as a
platform for the global & China pilot free trade zones, and enterprises to
exchange and look for business cooperation in China market. The summit becomes
an essential window for direct dialogue between the free zones. It is a symbol of knowledge exchange, experience
sharing, and best practice examples of global free zones.