Today's Edition
Gathering leaders, major investors, and relevant stakeholders from around the world, the eighth session of the Global Investment Forum kicks off at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) on Monday and will continue over the next five days through Friday, October 20.
The Global Investment Forum, which was established and launched by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), is an important global platform that brings together key stakeholders from around the world to draft policies and strategies to address global challenges in investment and development.
The forum is organised by UNCTAD’s Investment and Enterprise Division, based on its commitment to ensuring inclusive growth and directing investments to sustainable development. Supported by the Ministry of Economy and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development as the forum’s main partner, the event provides a unique platform with a particular focus on investing in sustainable development. Given the current global conditions and developments, this vision has become even more crucial.
Through its sessions and lectures, the forum will address urgent issues such as food security, sustainable energy, health infrastructure, and the challenges and solutions of global supply chains. The forum aims to ensure that principles of sustainability remain a focal point and a fundamental factor in investment strategies and decisions, considering the public interest and contributing to sustainable development.
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, emphasised that the UAE, with the vision and directives of its wise leadership, places sustainable economic growth and environmental and sustainability issues at the forefront of its priorities.
“In this context, we believe that hosting an event of this significance clearly reflects the UAE’s commitment and its pioneering role on the global stage in addressing contemporary challenges, especially issues related to climate change. As the world heads towards crucial discussions on the environment at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the country continues to contribute to leading international efforts to achieve fruitful and effective results regarding the urgent issues on the conference’s agenda,” His Excellency said.
He also emphasised the profound impact that global trade has in supporting and achieving growth, both socially and economically.
“Trade possesses a significant capability to continue enhancing sustainability and advancing towards a brighter future for upcoming generations. The UAE has notably distinguished itself in the investment sector, where the volume of foreign direct investment reached around $23 billion during the past year. This reflects the UAE’s distinguished position as a primary investment destination and reaffirms the immense importance of hosting the forum in Abu Dhabi, as well as boosting the nation’s position and role on the global trade and investment map,” he said.
His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said: “Hosting the eighth session of the Global Investment Forum underscores the leadership’s vision and its deep commitment to enhancing international cooperation and joint action, aiming to serve the global community’s general interest.”
Continuing, His Excellency said: “Abu Dhabi has established a supportive economic environment, achieved world-class infrastructure and communications, and is characterised by a vision and approach to entrepreneurship to provide growth opportunities for investors. We continue to build on the solid foundations of the ‘Falcon Economy’ to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to shaping a better future for humanity.”
The forum, held every two years, attracts over 7,000 stakeholders in the investment sector from 160 countries. The forum is expected to witness the attendance of leaders, heads of states, decision-makers, business leaders, CEOs of multinational companies, and representatives of civil society and international media institutions.
With the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) approaching, the 2023 Global Investment Forum has dedicated significant sessions to financing and investing in climate-related projects. The forum aims to create an environment enabling policymakers and stakeholders to align their strategies with the outcomes expected to significantly influence the conference’s negotiations.
The diverse opportunities specifically designed for participants are a distinctive feature of the 2023 Global Investment Forum, allowing attendees to connect with investment experts, exchange experiences, and establish potential opportunities for cooperation.
The forum promises to provide a deep insight into the global investment landscape and the challenges the world faces, allowing participants to benefit from specialised workshops to hone their skills using the latest investment promotion tools and strategies.
A workshop on the recently issued sustainability disclosure standards from the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation took place on Sunday as a pre-forum event.
This initiative marks the beginning of a new era of financial disclosure focused on sustainability in global capital markets. Sustainable economic growth and sustainability issues are at the forefront of the UAE’s priorities Organising the forum in Abu Dhabi reaffirms the commitment to enhance international cooperation Direct foreign investment in the UAE is valued at $23 billion.
