Free zones, for a long time, have been an essential pillar in the search for economic competitiveness of countries, with the aim of facilitating efficient international trade, marked by logistics optimization and cost reduction in import operations. and export.
However, in the current context, these areas have gone a step further and are becoming true centers of innovation, by diversifying their operations into emerging sectors, such as artificial intelligence, financial technology, health or electronic commerce, a strategy that has not only strengthened local economies, but has also contributed significantly to regional and global economic development. According to data from UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), these new hubs are present in more than 160 countries and constitute more than 5,400 worldwide.
In addition, they generate approximately 30% of global merchandise trade and provide employment to more than 100 million people globally. In the Ibero-American region there are more than 700 free zones, which extend throughout Latin America, Africa and Europe, all of them affiliated with the Association of Free Zones of the Americas (AZFA), an entity that acts as a facilitator of contacts and networking for more than 10,700 international and regional companies, generating the creation of more than 1,180,000 direct jobs. In this context, the Barcelona Free Zone will host the XXVI edition of the Ibero-American Free Zone Conference, which will be held from November 8 to 10 at the DFactory Barcelona, the technological hub led and promoted by the Consorci de la Barcelona Free Trade Zone (CZFB).
The international event will bring together more than 200 participants – operators, users, public entities, investors, consultants and industry suppliers – from Latin America, Europe and Africa for three days, who will analyze the current situation, advances, innovations, the best practices, trends and challenges of the future. In the words of Pere Navarro, special delegate of the State at the CZFB: “It is a pleasure for the Barcelona Free Trade Zone Consortium to be, once again, the hosts of the AZFA annual congress.
This edition takes on a special meaning because it is held at DFactory, an exceptional incentive for all our associates and, without a doubt, great news for the city of Barcelona. “We are excited by the opportunity to bring together so many industry professionals and share knowledge in this innovative environment.” In her case, Blanca Sorigué, general director of the Free Zone Consortium and member of the Association of Free Zones of the Americas, has pointed out that “the choice of Barcelona, and where appropriate, the DFactory as the venue for this event represents an unique opportunity to showcase the most developed projects in the sector. In addition, it gives us the opportunity to strengthen connections and establish synergies with professionals from other countries, and thus learn from the successes of free zones around the world.”
The Ibero-American Free Zone Conference is organized by the Association of Free Zones of the Americas (AZFA) and the Barcelona Free Zone Consortium (CZFB), with the collaboration of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). and the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ). It should be noted that AZFA currently represents its affiliates in 25 countries on two continents, and brings together more than 600 free zones with more than 13,000 established companies.
The Barcelona Free Zone Consortium was chosen as host within the framework of the celebration of the General Assembly of the Association of Free Zones of the Americas (AZFA) that took place on December 1 and 2, 2022 in the Dominican Republic, where The special delegate of the State in the CZFB, Pere Navarro, and its general director, Blanca Sorigué, had the opportunity to defend the candidacy of the city of Barcelona as host of the largest free zone event in the Americas.
