On May 21, 2025, the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) successfully hosted a high-impact international webinar titled:
"Opportunities and Challenges: How Your Free Zone Can Help Your Country Navigate the Evolving Global Landscape and Tariff Dynamics?"
The event drew 516 registrations from 91 countries, highlighting the growing global interest in how Free Zones can adapt and lead amid rapidly shifting trade environments.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohammed Alzarooni, Chairman of World FZO, addressed the growing geopolitical and economic volatility that is reshaping international trade. He emphasized that Free Zones must take an active role as facilitators of opportunity, resilience, and transformation.
He also outlined four key initiatives currently being undertaken by World FZO:
- Strengthening cooperation with the World Customs Organization
- Promoting Green Free Zones in partnership with the International Energy Agency
- Advancing agro-industrial Free Zones in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
- Partnering with UN Tourism to support tourism-oriented Free Zones
The session was moderated by Dr. Samir Hamrouni, CEO of World FZO, who welcomed distinguished speakers Dr. Ralph Ossa, Chief Economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Martín Ibarra, Advisor to the Board of World FZO.
Dr. Ralph Ossa during his keynote presentation discussed the impact of recent trade policies on global trade flows.
Key insights included:
- Rising tariffs and uncertainty have pushed global merchandise trade growth down to just 0.3%
- Despite growing tensions, 74% of global trade continues to be governed under WTO multilateral rules
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are especially vulnerable to current disruptions
- Regional partnerships and diversified markets are essential to building economic resilience
Dr. Ossa emphasized the enduring relevance of multilateralism and the need for cooperative management of trade tensions and redirection.
Martín Ibarra delivered a data-rich presentation on how Free Zones can position themselves amid current global disruptions. He noted:
- Free Zones have historically demonstrated resilience and growth during global crises
- The integration of U.S. content can help zones navigate new tariff structures
- Free Zones must adapt their value propositions to align with emerging global supply chains and trade policy trends
He also highlighted the importance of strong compliance practices, transparent customs operations, and agile logistics frameworks to maintain competitiveness and credibility.
The webinar concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, covering topics ranging from African trade integration and multilateralism to zone-specific challenges in logistics, mining, and digital trade.
Dr. Mohammed Alzarooni, Chairman of World FZO and Dr Samir Hamrouni, CEO of World FZO welcomed everyone to participate and continue the dialogue at the upcoming 11th World FZO World Congress scheduled for October 10–12, 2025, in Hainan, China.