A Ghanaian delegation participated in the 11th World Free Zones Organization (FZO) World Congress, held in Hainan, China, from 10th to 12th October 2025, under the theme Zones: Gateway to Global Prosperity, Trade, and Sustainable Innovation. Ghana’s participation was in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
The delegation was led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), Dr. Mary Awusi, alongside Mr. Simon Hochstein, Head of Component, Special Initiative “Invest for Jobs, GIZ Ghana Office.
Dr. Awusi featured as a panellist in a high-level discussion on Women in Zone Leadership: Breaking Barriers, which brought together distinguished women leaders across the global free zones ecosystem. She shared insights on her leadership journey and strategies for increasing women’s representation in governance and policymaking. Her remarks underscored Ghana’s commitment to empowering women and fostering a supportive environment for female leadership at all levels within the free zones framework.
On the sidelines of the Congress, Dr. Awusi engaged in productive bilateral meetings with delegations from Pakistan, Spain, and Costa Rica, exploring potential collaborations in investment promotion and industrial development. She also held a high-level meeting with the Mayor of Hainan, Mr. Liu Xiaoming, where she presented investment opportunities in Ghana’s Free Zones and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the GFZA and the Hainan Free Zone.
The Congress provided a vital platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnership building, equipping stakeholders with innovative strategies to tackle emerging challenges and position free zones as key engines of global growth. Participants reaffirmed their collective commitment to ensuring that free zones continue to drive inclusive and sustainable development worldwide.
Other members of the GFZA delegation included Dr. Patience Agbleze Acorlor, Director of Corporate Affairs & Public Relations; Hajia Hanatu Abubakar-Bimi, Director of Administration; and Mr. Kingsford Jagre, Senior Manager, BDR, AfCFTA and Projects.
The delegation also comprised Dr. John-Hawkins Asiedu, Technical Advisor for Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones, Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI); Dr. Richmond Frimpong, Co-Chair, African Economic Zones Chamber; and other officials from MoTAI and GIZ.