The Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPCFZ), a project of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the world’s first free zone dedicated to serving the global publishing and printing industry, has been accepted by the World Free Zones Organisation (World FZO) as a voting member of the global not-for-profit organisation that provides an authoritative, collective voice representing the interests of free zones around the world.

The World FZO was launched in Dubai in 2014, by fourteen founding members under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. Registered in Geneva and headquartered in Dubai, the World FZO is the only truly international, multi-lateral organisation for free zones in the world at present.

SPCFZ will derive many advantages from becoming a member of World FZO, such as benefitting from industry research, operational and administrative support services, high-level training, networking services and events.

As a voting member, SPCFZ will have access to the full range of World FZO services and full voting rights in the General Assembly, which takes place on a yearly basis at the Annual International Conference and Exhibition.

It will also have access to online portals where the latest studies on free zones around the world are available, as well as monthly newsletters, and a regular bulletin tackling key industry opportunities and challenges.

SPCFZ will also benefit through high-level business development and strategic networking opportunities with peers, consultants, service-providers, policy makers, multi- lateral organisations and key business decision makers from around the world.

This will in turn help SPCFZ learn, grow and prosper to become a best-in-class free zone and enhance the economic ecosystem. SPCFZ members will benefit enormously not only in terms of services offered but also through a number of educational tools developed from this association with World FZO.

Salim Omar Salim, Director of SPCFZ, said: “In keeping with its object of developing the publishing sector in the region and providing an investment environment for publishers worldwide, SPCFZ had applied to become a voting member of the World FZO. Its acceptance is a vindication of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the major success that SPCZ has turned out to be. It is the second major triumph for Sharjah after being the World Book Capital of 2019.”

He added: “Becoming a voting member will help SPCFZ develop through strategic networking opportunities with peers, consultants, service-providers, policy makers, multi- lateral organisations and key business decision makers from around the world.”

SPCFZ was established in 2017 as the world’s very first publishing and printing free zone offering the book industry the opportunity to capitalise on an array of benefits emerging from operating within a free zone environment, including the ideal location at the epicentre of the globe with all the advantages of being able to serve the MENA, African and Asian region’s markets.