IASP to Co-Chair Global Alliance of SEZs with UNCTAD

The Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ), of which IASP is a founding member, convened last week in Panama City for a meeting of founding members to review recent progress and exchange views on priorities for future collaboration.

The Alliance also endorsed Ebba Lund as the new Co-Chair of GASEZ, serving alongside Ms. Nan Li Collins, Co-Chair of GASEZ and Director of Investment and Enterprise at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Convened by UNCTAD, the Alliance was formed in 2021, following key findings from the World Investment Report 2019. GASEZ brings together associations representing special economic zones and innovation spaces with a shared focus on economic growth and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to facilitate international collaboration and peer learning across the alliance.

“We are excited about the opportunities for collaboration and shared progress as we dive into a new chapter of GASEZ. The exchange of best practices and peer learning within the alliance can greatly inspire our work and contributions to policy making, economic growth, and sustainable development. Representing SEZs and innovation hubs around the world, these are crucial goals in challenging times, and we look forward to continuing building on the collaboration developed over the past years”, said Ebba Lund. 

During the meeting, the contribution of the former Co-Chairs, James Zhan (UNCTAD) and Samir Hamrouni (WFZO), to the early development of GASEZ and peer engagement was also acknowledged.  

IASP has been an active member since the foundation of GASEZ, with IASP members being particularly active in the alliance’s SDG Model Zone initiative, including 17 IASP members among the 50 recognised entities worldwide. The initiative reflected the significant role that SEZs and innovation spaces play in advancing sustainable growth. 

In a rapidly evolving global setting, the importance of cooperation among members was also highlighted by Ms. Collins:

“We are operating in an exceptionally volatile global environment — trade policy uncertainty, geopolitical realignment, the green transition, and the digital revolution are all reshaping the investment landscape for SEZs simultaneously,” said Ms. Collins. “In this context, a well-structured, collectively owned work plan is a strategic tool for GASEZ to help its members navigate uncertainty more efficiently. As the Secretariat of GASEZ, UNCTAD remains fully committed to working with all founding members to make the Alliance stronger, more action-oriented, and increasingly relevant to the evolving needs of special economic zones worldwide.” 

The meeting of GASEZ took place during the 12th World Free Zones Organization (WFZO) Congress in Panama City, where Ebba Lund also delivered one of the keynote speeches. 

IASP congratulates Ebba Lund on her appointment as Co-Chair of GASEZ and looks forward to continued collaboration across the Alliance and joint efforts in advancing sustainable and innovation-driven development worldwide.