Page 277 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2024 (Part 1)

9/29/24, 5:57 PM World FZO’s 10th Annual World Congress concludes in Dubai with 2000 Attendees from 136 Countries - Business - Economy and …

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister

and Ruler of Dubai, the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) successfully concluded the 10th edition of its
Annual World Congress, which attracted over 2,000 participants from 136 countries.

This year’s congress coincided with the World 10th anniversary of the organization's founding, witnessed by His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai, where the organization's headquarters is located.

The organization has played a pivotal role in setting global standards and contributing to efforts aimed at achieving
sustainable development worldwide. Over the past decade, it has successfully expanded its membership base from
14 founding members to a thriving global community of 1,600 members from 141 countries, supported by a global

network of 12 regional offices and 42 national contact points.

Future of Key Sectors

The congress opened with a ‘Ministerial Meeting’ attended by H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State
for Foreign Trade, along with a Prime Minister, 24 ministers, deputy ministers, and secretaries-general. The meeting

discussed the future role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in global trade, focusing on five key
areas: how to harness emerging opportunities and address challenges through international cooperation,
maximizing the potential benefits of AI and new technologies while minimizing risks, enhancing trade and AI

integration to drive sustainable global development, stimulating trade and investment, and tackling supply chain
challenges through free zones, while shaping safer, more resilient supply chains through modern economic zones.

In his speech during the Ministerial Meeting, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign
Trade, said: ‘We are at the cusp of a new global trade paradigm, marked by both challenges and opportunities as

global supply chains undergo transformation alongside the rapid digitalization of trade. Technology, meanwhile, is
transcending boundaries and reshaping global trade, with artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain improving the
resilience of supply chains. Amid these shifts, technology emerges as a transformative force, capable of

transcending regional boundaries and revolutionizing global trade.’

His Excellency added: ‘The UAE is strategically positioned as a global trade leader, adopting a neutral stance that

balances trade and diplomacy while strengthening its global partnerships through comprehensive economic
partnership agreements (CEPAs).’

Participants in the Ministerial Meeting affirmed the emergence of a new model for global trade driven by the
transformation of global supply chains and the digitization of commerce. They noted that global conflicts, crises,

trade disruptions, and protectionist trade policies are imposing new challenges on trade flows and economic growth
internationally. However, they also highlighted that rapid technological advancements and global sustainable
development efforts are creating new opportunities for countries and industries.

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