By Government Press Office | BELIZE
BELMOPAN, Belize – More than 1,500 guests from 140 countries are gathering in Montego Bay, Jamaica for the 8th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) presented by the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) in association with its conference host, The Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA).
The conference, held under the theme: “Zones, your partner for Resilience, Sustainability, and Prosperity” aims to strategize the way forward to build greater resilience of our investment brand: the Caribbean and to foster deeper conversations about the future of the free zones industry.
The conference being held from the 13 to 17 of June showcases global business leaders, multilateral organizations, and policymakers, who share best practices as well as spread public awareness through panel discussions on the roles and contributions of free zones on economic growth and stability.
Other key panels discussed topics such as:
- Shaping the Future of Supply Chain Resilience;
- Building a New Generation of SDG/ESG Entities;
- Charting the Future of an Inclusive Ecommerce; and,
- Reforming the Global Task System.
Apart from the discussions on strategizing for greater integration into the WFZO, the representatives discussed packaging viable projects to pitch in Montego Bay and the upcoming Saudi Arabia-Caribbean Forum, to be held in the Dominican Republic, in July. The conference also included a trade exhibition with over 100 trade booths and concluded with B2B meetings to promote supply chain connections.
Representing Belize at the forum was the executive director of BELTRAIDE, Dr Leroy Almendarez, remarked that: “Resilience is key for long-term sustainability and Belize is on the right track to improving its resiliency through the implementation of policies that help to foster economic trade and limit those hindrances to trade caused by high tariffs and complex customs regulations.”
