The 25th Iberoamerican Free Zone Conference was held at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on December 1st and 2nd. The Free Zones Association of the Americas (AZFA), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM), the Dominican Association of Free Zones (ADOZONA), and the National Council of Export Processing Zones organized it (CNZFE).
This is the most significant event for the Ibero-American free trade zone sector, bringing together operators, users, government bodies, investors, consultants, and industry suppliers to debate the sector’s present condition, development, innovations, best practices, trends, and future problems.
This seminar included a wide range of subjects, including technology and innovation, integration, sustainability, and resilience. Mohammed Al Muallem (executive vice president of DP World), James X. Zhan (director of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s investment and business section), David Greenstein (founder and CEO of Wonder Brands), and Antonio Novas Garca were among the speakers (managing partner at McKinsey & Company).
In addition to the academic program, on November 30, visits were conducted to Santo Domingo free trade zones such as PIISA Industrial Park, Zonas Francas Las Americas, DP World Caucedo, and Zona Franca San Isidro with the goal of exchanging expertise and learning best practices.
Maria Eugenia Tabush, the director of Invest Guatemala, attended the event and spoke with strategic entities to learn about the work being done by the Dominican Republic and other nations in the region to modernize and encourage the use of free trade zones.