Panama will host the XII World Congress of Free Zones (World FZO) from May 12 to 14, 2026 at the Panama Convention Center. During the event in which business and political leaders will analyze the future of trade and investment, and They will seek to give the sector a boost as an engine of development, regional integration and economic diversification.
The activity is organized by the World Free Zone Organization (World FZO), in alliance with the Government of Panama, and will be developed under the motto “Free Zones in the new global operating model: challenges and opportunities” and aims to offer a strategic platform for dialogue and collaboration, aimed at promoting resilient, digital and sustainable growth in a global economy in transformation.
“The World Congress serves as a key platform to define the global trade agenda and redefine the role of zones as catalysts for sustainable economic growth. This edition underlines the importance of innovation, digital transformation and integrated economic ecosystems to drive long-term competitiveness and value creation,” said World FZO President Mohammed Al Zarooni.
The event will be inaugurated by the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, and will bring together ministers, senior government officials and representatives of multinational and multilateral organizations to analyze the future of global trade, investment and the competitiveness of economic zones, the World FZO reported in a statement.
The presence of more than 1,500 public policy makers, business leaders and high-level executives from free zones from different regions of the world is expected, who will analyze the context marked by geopolitical changes, the acceleration of digitalization and the growing sustainability agenda.
One of the objectives of the congress is to examine how free zones can strengthen their role as engines of economic diversification, industrial development and regional integration.
“The congress provides a structured environment for knowledge exchange, public policy dialogue and partnership development, reinforcing the role of the zones as platforms for innovation, investment and inclusive economic growth,” added Al Zarooni, who will be at the opening ceremony of the event.
The congress will include a program that includes ministerial round tables, plenary sessions and leadership dialogues on digital transformation, sustainability and regional value chains, among which the Caribbean Ministerial Table, the Latin American Ministerial Table, the Mercosur Integration Table and the BRICS+ Free Zones Table stand out.
Likewise, the event program will emphasize the impact of emerging technologies on competitiveness, with spaces focused on artificial intelligence, smart infrastructure and digital commerce, as well as panels that will address issues such as leadership, commercial connectivity and sustainable industrial transformation.
The event will also incorporate initiatives aimed at public policy dialogue and capacity building, as well as meetings between investors and spaces designed to facilitate alliances and investment opportunities.