The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
SHANNON Airport has scored another remarkable first as its chairman, Rose Hynes becomes one of the founding board members of the World Free Zones Organisation. At its launch in Dubai this week, Ms Hynes was also appointed to the key role of founding treasurer.
The inaugural board gathered on Monday evening at the Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel in Dubai for the launch by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Shannon is one of only two European free zones on the inaugural board, along with Barcelona.
Speaking from Dubai, Ms Hynes said that the launch was another prestigious moment and one that offers great opportunity and promise for the Shannon Free Zone.
“The Shannon Free Zone, as the first free zone in the world, has been replicated as a concept the world over in the 55 years since it was founded. It is an honour to be a member of the founding board of the World Free Zones Organisation and this shows how much Shannon continues to resonate at the highest level internationally.
“We are in great company as this organisation brings leading Free Zone expertise together from around the world. It will promote an exchange of ideas and business connections and will facilitate trade. Undoubtedly Shannon and Ireland will benefit from that. Being a member of the founding board positions Shannon excellently to take advantage of what is a unique networking opportunity at a very high level,” she said.
Free Zones, of which Shannon was the world’s first in 1959, are areas with special incentives or attractions for new industries, especially export-oriented industries. The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) is a new non-profit entity bringing together free zones and Special Economic Zones around the world to offer global leadership on the subject of free zones, provide a range of services for its members, and increase awareness of the role of free zones in economic and social development and foreign direct investment.
