Panama City, Panama – 12 May 2026 — The Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ) convened a meeting in Panama City on the margins of the World Free Zones Organization (WFZO) Congress, bringing together founding members to review recent progress, discuss governance matters, and exchange views on priorities for future collaboration within the Alliance.
A key outcome of the meeting was the formal endorsement of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), represented by Ms. Ebba Lund, as the new Co-Chair of GASEZ. She will serve alongside Ms. Nan Li Collins, Co-Chair of GASEZ and Director of Investment and Enterprise at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Founding members welcomed the appointment as a step toward strengthening collaboration across the Alliance.
Founded in 1984, and with members in over 80 countries, IASP brings together science parks, innovation districts and other innovation areas, across more than 80 countries, with a strong focus on innovation, knowledge exchange and sustainable economic development. IASP has been an active member of GASEZ, and its new co-chair is expected to further strengthen engagement and joint projects.
Opening the meeting, Ms. Collins highlighted the importance of cooperation among members in a rapidly evolving global setting:
“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.”
Discussions focused on strengthening coordination among founding members, supporting peer learning, and identifying areas where GASEZ can add collective value to alliance peers and their respective memberships. Ms. Lund commented:
“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.”
Ms. Lund succeeds Mr. Samir Hamrouni, former Chief Executive Officer of the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO), as Co-Chair of GASEZ.
