Report of activities

Our first 10 Years, 1.999 to 2.010

Fédération Mondiale des Zones Franches – FEMOZA

December 2.009, FEMOZA’s 10th Anniversary, during this time many things happened and a lot activities have been done, but not enough, because our initial commitments, must go far.

During the SALON EMA INVEST in Geneva, spring 1.999, the Organizers Fondation EMA, received a lot of questions about how to get help on Free Zones projects, especially in emergent countries.

After the Salon, Fondation EMA, had several contacts and meetings in order to fill the gap in the Free Zones knowledge, the goodwill of Institutions and persons reached to the agreement to create a World Federation to help Free Zones development, especially in emergent Countries.

In December 1.999, the “Fédération Mondiale des Zones Franches – FEMOZA”, born under the article 60 of the Swiss Civil Code, as a non for profit NGO, supported by Fondation EMA.

From the very beginning, FEMOZA worked hard with Swiss and International Organizations, these are some facts and goals achieved in these ten years.

Genéve. Welcome, recognized FEMOZA, on 27th September 2.002, as part of the Geneva’s Organizations Non Governmental.

Since 2.003 have the Status of Observer for UNCTAD – Geneva and UNIDO, Wien.
Participation, invited by WTO, to the 5ft WTO World Minister Conference in Cancun, Mexico September 2.003

Active member represented by Vice President Mr. Peter F. Ryan, in the U.N – ITC Annual FORUM in Montreux, Switzerland.

Vice-President Mr. Peter F. Ryan, cooperated with regular papers to FDI Magazine, edited by Financial Times Group, London, U.K.

U.N. Missions

Femoza, participated in the following UN Missions.

• Iran 2.004: Investment Program Review
• Azerbaijan 2.007: UNIDO mission in order to discuss and offer solutions to their Free and Special Economic Zones, program.

SUPPORT TO GOVERNMENTS

• Croatia: A report revising the Foreign Investment and Free Zones Law, was issue by Femoza ex perts and delivered to the Croatian President, in September 2.001
• Haiti: Femoza issued and proposed to the Ministry of Commerce a National Free Zones Law, the law was approved by the Haitian Parliament,
• Bulgaria: By an specific demand of the Prime Minister Office, we issued some recommendations to the new Free Zones and Foreign Investment Law
• Ecuador: By demand of former President Dr. Jamil Mahuat, we issued some recommendations to the Free Zone Law

EVENTS

FEMOZA, participated as Organizer, Co-Organizer or Key Guest, in many International Events the most representatives are :

• Salon Ema Invest: Geneva - Switzerland
• Freezex: Dubai – United Arabs Emirates
• 2nd World Free Zone Zonference:Delhi – India
• V Conferencia Latinoamericana de Zonas Francas: Panamá – Panamá
• Free Zone Forum: Varna – Bulgaria
• Bussiness Park 2.008: Delhi – India
• Transport Conference: MAURITIUS – Mauritius Island
• Zones Franches en Mediterranee: Paris – France

TECHNICAL VISITS TO FREE ZONES

Despite many events, FEMOZA, organized visits and meetings in many free zones answering their questions and offering technical support to their projects, some of them in

• Gdansk: Poland
• Pula, Rijeka: Croatia
• Montevideo: Uruguay
• Manaus: Brazil
• Buenos Aires: Argentina
• Guatemala: Guatemala
• Damascus: Syria
• Sfax: Tunisia
• Shanghai: China
• Mauritius: Mauritius
• Perpignan: France
• Burgas Free Zone: Bulgaria
• United Arab Emirates: Dubai Airport Free Zone, Jebel Ali Free Zone, RAK Free Trade Zone, Sharjah Free Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone, Um al Quain Free Zone,

MEDIA INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS AND/OR COOPERATION

• We support since 2.000, the UAE Free Zones Directory, compiled and edited by Global Resources Dubai
• Journal Les Afriques: Geneva, Switzerland
• FDI Magazine, Financial Times Group, London U.K.
• Media One Group – Dubai – United Arabs Emirates,
• We keep good relationship and cooperation with International Organizations

RECOGNITION

We cannot forget the great support offered by Vice- President Mr. Peter F. Ryan, to FEMOZA, for 10 years, before his retirement last January 2.009.

Peter, your knowledge and more than 30 years experience in Free and Export Processing Zones, your deep support to everyone of our activities and your personal help to all of us, have been very important to Femoza’s development, Just Thanks, enjoy your retirement with your loved Sybille and God bless you.

CONCLUSIONS

All it are the facts happened in the last 10 years, but for the coming future, we are ready to improve better our support to Free Zones projects, adapting latest technologies, to be more interactive and close, with the international Free and Special Economic Zones community.
Geneva, 26 November 2.009