World Free Zones Organization Sees Surge in Membership (press release)

April, 2015 - Dubai, UAE: The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO), the global not-for-profit industry body for free zones, has announced a steep rise in membership numbers. Launched May 19th 2014 under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the World FZO began operations with 14 Founding Members. However, after an intensive global outreach program, the organization has now reached over 155 members from 40 countries.

The World FZO represents the interests of free zones globally and, as a reflection of its international makeup, its board of directors is comprised of industry experts and members from free zones and associations of free zones based across the US, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. The organization also aims to foster public awareness of the role and contribution to economic growth that free zones can make. To this end, in November 2014, it launched the World FZO Observatory, a research division that will create a comprehensive knowledge base and atlas on the estimated 3,500 free zones in the world.

Moreover, to bring all its members and interested business community together, as well as to enlarge and strengthen the world wide network, the World FZO initiated the 1st Annual International Conference, entitled 'Towards a New Global Trade Order' and Exhibition scheduled to be held in Dubai, UAE from 11th?13th May, 2015. This platform of free zones will provide the most expeditious and practical way to enhance flexibly in international trade and to increase the attractiveness of more countries for economic development and foreign direct investment.

Commenting on the membership growth, Dr. Mohammed Alzarooni, the Chairman of...