INCIT was honoured to participate in the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) 12th World Congress, co-hosted by the World Free Zones Organization and the Ministerio de Comercio e Industria, República de Panamá, held from 12–14 May 2026 at the Panama Convention Center in Panama City.
Held under the theme “Free Zones in the New Global Operating Model: Challenges and Opportunities,” the Congress brought together global policymakers, industry leaders, economic zone authorities, and international organisations to discuss the future of industrial development amid growing geopolitical, technological, and sustainability pressures.
Throughout the Congress, discussions reflected a significant shift in the role of free zones within the global economy. Once viewed primarily as gateways for trade and investment, free zones are increasingly evolving into strategic ecosystems that support industrial transformation, sustainability, technological innovation, and supply chain resilience.
Representing INCIT, CEO Raimund Klein participated in Panel 3: “Sustainability as a Competitive Edge – The Green Industrial Transition,” alongside distinguished international leaders including Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Carlos Wong, General Director of Coyol Free Zone, Costa Rica; Pere Navarro, Special State Delegate of the Barcelona Free Zone Consortium, Spain; and Christian Susan, Industrial Development Officer at UNIDO Austria.
The panel explored how free zones can move beyond traditional economic functions to become innovation laboratories for sustainable industrial development. Discussions focused on practical pathways for advancing circular economy adoption, attracting green investment, improving resource efficiency, and accelerating climate-smart industrial growth across global value chains.
Raimund Klein also participated in the Emerging Technologies Foresight Lab, where policymakers, industry leaders, and ecosystem stakeholders examined how emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, automation, IoT, advanced analytics, robotics, and digital twins are reshaping industrial value chains, operational resilience, logistics, and regional competitiveness.
A key theme emerging across both sessions was the growing recognition that industrial competitiveness is no longer defined solely by cost efficiency or technology adoption. Increasingly, long-term resilience and growth depend on the readiness of organisations, ecosystems, and nations to adapt to changing operating models while balancing sustainability, digital capability, and workforce transformation.
The Congress also highlighted the increasing importance of collaboration between governments, industry, economic zones, and ecosystem partners in enabling scalable and sustainable industrial transformation outcomes.
INCIT is grateful for the opportunity to participate in these important global conversations and engage with leaders shaping the future of resilient, sustainable, and future-ready industrial ecosystems worldwide.
As global industries continue to navigate increasing complexity and transformation pressures, INCIT remains committed to supporting organisations through structured readiness frameworks, capability building, and ecosystem collaboration that enable practical and measurable transformation outcomes.
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