The World Organization of Free Zones highly appreciated the development of Kazakhstan SEZs and IZs
Akimat of Pavlodar region and the World Organization of Free Zones with the support of «KAZAKH INVEST» organized the first event «FREE ZONES OF THE FUTURE» aimed at the development of investment sites in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The purpose of the event is to provide the Kazakh side with a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the world practice and global trends in attracting investments, as well as the experience of running world-class investment sites.
The online conference was attended by Zoё Harris, the project manager of the World Free Zones Organization, the Chief Knowledge Officer at the World FZO Mohan Guruswamy, and the doctoral student of the Kiel Institute of World Economy Saskia Meukhelbek. From the Kazakh side, speakers were the first heads of the governing bodies of the Special Economic and Industrial Zones of Kazakhstan, as well as deputy akims of regions and cities responsible of investment issues.
Opening the webinar was started with welcoming speech the chairman of the World Organization of Free Zones Mohammed Al Zarooni.
«We see opportunities for the development of free zones as the economy strives for greater regional coordination and integration through political reforms and the use of advanced technologies. In addition, free zones will be most future-ready if they focus on regeneration in the most sustainable way. There is a need to pay particular attention to the transparency of their environmental, social and governance contributions. Moreover, organizing work in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals will open up new ways to achieve their economic goals and social development».
In turn, Zoё Harris noted that the World Organization of Free Zones specialists have developed a number of certification programs, as well as special resources to support the development of free zones. According to her, the programs will help establish a new set of global standards that will help all stakeholders.
During the event, foreign participants highly appreciated the work of the SEZ and IZ of Kazakhstan, including for taking measures to minimize the consequences of the pandemic through digitalization and established communications, as well as for revising value propositions and long-term strategies.
«The conference lays the foundation for attracting investments in a digital format: in the context of the global trend of digitalization, the issue of attracting investments is also moving to a new level - in the current realities it is possible to attract investors online,» concluded Aibek Tursyngaliev, head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Industrial and Innovative Development of Pavlodar Region.
For reference: The World Free Zones Organization was founded in Geneva in 2014, the central office is located in Dubai. It is the only organization in the world that unites free zones, industrial parks, and special zones around the world. It is aimed at helping investors in choosing investment sites around the world, as well as supporting and developing this tool through the exchange of experience and knowledge between participants. Today the World Organization of Free Zones includes more than 50 thousand companies from 126 countries of the world.
Special economic zone «Pavlodar» is the official representative of the World Free Zones Organization in Central Asia since 2019.
