A note from the editor:

As China convenes its 2025 Two Sessions, the world once again turns its attention to the country’s new blueprint for reform and opening-up. At the forefront of this journey, the Hainan Free Trade Port enters a landmark year as it prepares to implement special customs operations and open its door even wider to the world. How will Hainan present its unique opportunities and dynamic vitality to the world?

To mark this milestone, HIMC is launching Hainan, China: Where Opportunity Knocks, inviting representatives from government, business, overseas Chinese communities, academia, and international circles to share their stories of growing alongside Hainan. The program decodes the Free Trade Port’s policy dividends and extends an open invitation to the world to embrace its opportunities.

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025, being held in Boao Town in Eastern Hainan's Qionghai City from March 25 to 28, has once again focused the world's attention on Hainan and Boao.

On the first day of this year's BFA Annual Conference, the Global Free Trade Ports Development Forum was held in the main venue of the Boao Forum for Asia International Conference Center. Chinese and foreign attendees discussed the development of free trade zones (ports) around the world and how to empower global economic and trade cooperation. Among those invited to attend was Samir Hamrouni, CEO of the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO).

The World FZO was established in 2014 to provide a platform for discussion and exchange of knowledge, aiming to standardize and enhance the efficient operation of free trade zones and to support their development. Currently, the organization comprises over 3,000 free trade zones across 150 countries, with 12 regional offices worldwide. For Mr. Hamrouni, participating in this year's Global Free Trade Ports Development Forum is an opportunity to bring the experiences of Singapore, Dubai, and other parts of the world to Hainan.

Speaking of Hainan's development, he believes that the province has made remarkable progress in the agricultural, aerospace, manufacturing, and energy sectors. He also suggested that the nascent free trade port should learn from the successful experiences of Singapore and Dubai by focusing on the development of the service industry.

"What is Hainan? This is important." In his interview with HIMC, Mr. Hamrouni mentioned the need to raise awareness about the significance of Hainan. In this regard, he proposed that "you will never spend enough in promoting and marketing," emphasizing the necessity for Hainan to increase its promotion and marketing efforts.

Free trade zones around the world aim to attract more well-known companies and multinational corporations to invest and develop. However, Mr. Hamrouni has his own perspective—attracting "future" multinational enterprises. "Future multinationals are today's small and medium enterprises, and future small and medium enterprises are today's young entrepreneurs." Therefore, when discussing the continuity of the development of the Hainan FTP, he believes that Hainan still needs to attract more young entrepreneurs to work here.

The World FZO global conference, which is held in different countries annually, will be coming to Hainan from October 10 to 12. Talking about his plan to have the conference in Hainan, Mr. Hamrouni stated directly: "We will bring the world to Hainan."