Top officials during the signing ceremony.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) signed an agreement with the Adriatica Special Economic Zone, appointing Bari, Italy, as the host city for the 10th edition of the Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE), taking place from June 19-21, 2024.

The conference will run alongside the G7 Summit, which is also scheduled to take place in Puglia during the same period.

The agreement was signed in the presence of  Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of the World Free Zones Organization, Extraordinary Government Commissioner of the Adriatica Special Economic Zone, Engineer Manlio Guadagnuolo, Deputy Minister of Justice, Sen. Francesco Paolo Sisto, and the Undersecretary of State for Health, Hon. Marcello Gemmato.

AICE is renowned as one of the world’s most prestigious events in economic development and free zone operations. Bringing together key stakeholders, global experts, and industry leaders, AICE serves as an ideal platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of innovative ideas that seek to drive economic growth and development in international trade.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of the World Free Zones Organization, said: “AICE 2024 will mark a milestone in economic development and free zones. We are delighted to collaborate with the Adriatica Special Economic Zone and the Italian Government in shaping the future of global trade and economic growth.”

“AICE represents an exceptional opportunity for Italy, as it unites eight Special Economic Zones in Southern Italy under one zone and extends its impact to the entire South, potentially transforming the region into an extraordinary engine of economic growth, attracting foreign investments. World FZO is here to support this new course.”

“At the World FZO, our commitment lies in shaping the future of Zones and creating value through public policies that uphold the system’s values. AICE has consolidated its positon as an ideal platform for leaders of Special Economic Zones and Free Zones to convene annually, exchange ideas, collaborate, and attract investments.” His Excellency concluded.

The event will explore various topics shaping the future of global Free Zones, including advancements in artificial intelligence, ICT, and digital transformation; embracing sustainable development goals (SDGs) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives within the framework of the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ); exploring opportunities in the blue economy and infrastructure asset management. This is in addition to promoting SEZs as specialized areas for production chains, enabling investments in diverse sectors such as tourism, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

The Italian Government’s support for the candidacy of the Adriatica Special Economic Zone led to its victory in the international competition held in Dubai on May 3, 2023, securing Italy’s role as the host of this prestigious global event.

AICE 2024 represents a unique and unmissable opportunity for Italy to showcase the Southern Italy Special Economic Zone, attracting investments from significant international players and contributing to the region’s economic growth.

Oman Cables Industry : Oman Cables Industry (OCI), the leading manufacturer of energy cables and innovative service provider in Oman, along with its strategic partner Prysmian Group, unveiled its vision for a sustainable future, highlighting the Group’s dedication to environmental responsibility, social progress and innovation.

The Sustainability Day event took place recently and brought together industry leaders from across the GCC Region. OCI reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to sustainable growth and its resolute alignment with the ambitious Oman Vision 2040. Demonstrating their proactive approach, OCI took a pioneering step by organizing the event under the theme “Going Green, Going Digital.” With sustainability firmly integrated into its business strategy, the event served as a powerful platform to explore innovative pathways towards a greener and digitally driven future. Through insightful discussions, experts explored the latest trends in embracing sustainable transformation within the industry.

Oman Cables Group has identified 50 projects over the next three years and dedicated investments have been approved for 2023, boosting its sustainability efforts. OCI’s dedication to sustainability has been integral to its growth strategy, leading to the Climate Change Ambition and adherence to the Science Based Target initiatives in 2021.

In the opening address, Cinzia Farisè, Oman Cables CEO outlined the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) approach. This was followed by COO Muhannad Al Lawati, who detailed Oman Cables Climate Ambition, outlining the organization’s projects to combat climate change. The Social Ambition was illustrated by CSO Giancarlo Esposito, with numerous projects and specific KPIs in term of diversity and inclusion. The last chapter was dedicated to Innovation4Sustainability, with an excursus of main innovation and innovative projects of a company that recently established in Oman the Renewables Excellence Center – solar, wind and hydrogen - for the entire region.