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Agenda 2023

10:00-11:30

Creating New Opportunities for FDI Attraction Using Data and Innovative Digital Tools – Global Data

Key Topics:

  • Key trends that will drive innovative FDI and IPA strategies 
  • Revealing three key thematic areas IPAs should care more about 
  • Improving capacity and use of data insights and digital tools 
  • How to identify the right companies to target for your location using data 
  • How to use digital tools to improve reach and engage new markets 
  • How IPAs can align teams to work smarter, not harder, to improve FDI flow 
  • How to create an attractive content strategy to create demand from new markets 

Workshop Facilitator:

Eleanor Slinger, Regional Director for Investment Monitor

Workshop Leader:  

Glenn Barklie, Chief Economist, FDI, Global Data

Eleanor Slinger

Investment Monitor

Regional Director

Glenn Barklie

GlobalData​

Chief Economist, FDI

11:30 – 13:00

New Age IPAs: Aligning with the Changing World Order - WAIPA

The world of investments is changing. Companies are moving production processes to trusted countries and FDI is becoming more concentrated “within blocks of aligned countries” (friend-shoring). Countries are introducing policies to strengthen domestic strategic manufacturing sectors. Investment flows to least developed countries have been affected disproportionally by global crises.  

The four-session masterclass from WAIPA will help IPAs re-invent to align with the new world order. In the first session, we will provide an opportunity to understand FDI trends at global, regional & country levels. Good practices followed by best-in-class IPA’s through the investment lifecycle will be shared in the second session. In the third session, we will hear from an IPA Leader from a LDC country on select good practices followed. In the last session, we will bring out five key strategies that we believe are essential for New Age IPAs.

Workshop Leader:

Courtney Fingar, Senior Advisor, Europe, and Communications, WAIPA

Courtney Fingar

WAIPA

Senior Advisor, Europe, and Communications

13:00 – 14:30

The Future of Investment Promotion - NxtZones

With changes in the volume and type of FDI taking place as well as the different communication strategies of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) adopted during the Covid-19 years, this workshop looks to the future of investment promotion. In particular it addresses the way IPAs can change their activities and organizational structure in order to continue to successfully attract and maintain FDI. It also explores what is necessary for IPAs to attract new forms of FDI (like FDI 4.0 or digital FDI), which stakeholder relations are important and how can IPAs best position themselves in the future Together we will try and develop a new roadmap for your IPA organization, activities and staff. Participants of all IPAs, investment policy officials, investment intermediaries and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are welcome to join this workshop

Workshop Leader: 

  1. Dr. Douglas van den Berghe, CEO, NxtZones
  2. Courtney Fingar, Founder & Principal, Fingar Direct Investment

Dr. Douglas van den Berghe

NxtZones

Chief Executive Officer

Courtney Fingar

Fingar Direct Investment

Courtney Fingar, Founder & Principal, Fingar Direct Investment

14:30 – 16:00

Attracting High Quality FDI for Economic Growth - GDP Global

This workshop shows how economic growth and prosperity can be achieved through FDI attraction. It also addresses the wider economic development strategy. Topics include innovation and best practice in economic and investor research, IP strategy, campaign planning, country and sector targeting, engagement with investors, key milestones in attracting investment. Team organisation, place marketing, business networking and high level business introductions. We also consider how to audit the investment attraction KPIs that will help to focus on investment promotion success. 

Workshop Leaders: 

John Hanna, Managing Director, GDP Global Development

John Hanna

GDP Global

Managing Director

16:00 – 17:30

How to Provide What Investors Want - FDI Center

This will be a very practical session that will offer detailed insight into how corporate investors make international expansion and location decisions. Participants will learn about their key requirements, the factors that influence their decisions and how IPAs can respond to their needs. The session will allow you to become more responsive to investors, tailor your IPA’s support to what is most important to them and help you to win projects based on the value you deliver. 

Workshop Leader:

  1. Andreas Dressler, Managing Director, FDI Center 
  2. Dr. Kim J. Zietlow, Director, FDI Center

Andreas Dressler

Managing Director of FDI Center

Dr. Kim J. Zietlow

FDI Center

Director

10:00 - 10:05

Opening Remarks


10:05 – 10:45

Global Leaders Debate, Part 1: The Future Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity, and Prosperity

As the world recovers from the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the investment world is going through a paradigm shift that will transform the global investment landscape and investment world. The global economy is adapting to the ‘new normal’, there are many factors that accelerate the new paradigm. This session will focus on how disruptive technologies, climate change and geopolitical tensions as well as the pandemic are all factors that the economy is faced with. 

Moderator: 

TBC

Panelists: 

  1. Rebecca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD 
  2. Antonio Pedro, Acting Secretary General, Economic Commission for Africa 
  3. H.E. Rashed Albalooshi, Head of Application Development, Dubai Development Authority  
  4. Khalid Ali Al-Ruwaigh, CEO, Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp)
  5. Jung Sook Park, Secretary General, WeGo


10:45 – 11:10

World Economy Debate: The Future of the Global Investment World

Many economies have been affected by recent global changes including unprecedented levels of inflation, elevated debt levels, climate change and other underlying pressures. 

World leaders face the tough challenge of controlling the world economy and reduce inflation at a critical time when growth is stagnated.

This panel brings together the world’s economic leaders to tackle some of the biggest global challenges and focus on effective approaches to strengthen the world economy.

Moderator:

TBC

Speakers:

  1. H.E. Maksim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development, Russian Federation
  2. H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, UAE
  3. H.E. Wang Wen Tao, Minister of Commerce, People’s Republic of China
  4. H.E. Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, India


11:10 – 12:00

Global Leaders Debate, Part 2: The Future Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity and Prosperity

As the world recovers from the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the investment world is going through a paradigm shift that will transform the global investment landscape and investment world. The global economy is adapting to the ‘new normal’, there are many factors that accelerate the new paradigm. This session will focus on how disruptive technologies, climate change and geopolitical tensions as well as the pandemic are all factors that the economy is faced with.

Moderator:

TBC

Speakers:

  1. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General, States of Arab League  
  2. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Secretary General, Africa Caribbean Pacific (OACPS) 
  3. Sergio Diaz-Grandos G., Executive President, Development Bank of Latin America 
  4. Rustam Minikhanov, Head of Republic Tatarstan 
  5. H.E. Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area 
  6. Jun Ge, Group CEO, ToJoy  
12:25 – 13:00

AIM Exhibition Opening


13:00 - 14:00

Lunch & Networking Break


14:00 - 14:05

MC Opening Remarks


14:05 - 14:10

14:05 - 14:10

Opening Remarks by H.E. Omar Ahmed Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, United Arab Emirates

H.E. Omar Ahmed Suwaina Al Suwaidi

United Arab Emirates

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology

14:10 - 14:25

Keynote Address on Investing in Space to attain the UN SDG's and Sustainability

Candace Johnson, Chair Seraphim Space Advisory Board and Partner, Vice-Chair NorthStar Earth & Space, Founder/Co-founder SES, Loral Teleport Europe, Europe Online, GTWN, OWNSAT, VATM, GBRW.  

Candace Johnson

Seraphim Space Advisory Board and Partner

Chair

14:25 - 15:25

Global Economic Outlook - Beyond the Paradigm Shift, Where Next for the Investment Market

After years of uncertainty and turbulent times, the need for FDI is at it’s all time high. Attracting FDIs will not only help the economy back on track but will ensure a successful future ahead. This session aims to explore the opportunities for FDI and FPI in identifying changes that will transform the global investment landscape, influencing investments with ESG and embracing all stakeholders. 

Moderator:  

Torek Farhadi, Former International Monetary Fund Advisor

Panelists:

  1. Jad Ellawn, Managing Partner, Regional Head of the Middle East, Brookfield
  2. Dr. Yousuf Hamed Al-Balushi, Founder, Oman Investment Gateway 
  3. Dr. Lassaad Lachaal, Senior Advisor to the President-MENA Region, African Development Bank Group 
  4. Renee Haugerud, Founder & Chief Investment Officer, Galtere 
  5. Krzysztof Drynda, Chairman, Polish Investment and Trade Agency 
  6. Ibraev Danil, President, Kyrgyz Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
  7. Vazil Huda, Chairman, AVANEA
  8. H.E. Maria Camilleri Calleja, Ambassador of the Republic of Malta and Permanent Representative of Malta to IRENA Abu Dhabi​

Jad Ellawn

Brookfield

Regional Head of the Middle East, Brookfield

Dr. Yousuf Hamed Al Balushi

Oman Investment Gateway

Founder & Chairman

Khawaja Aftab Ahmed

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group

IFC’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan

Krzysztof Drynda

Polish Investment and Trade Agency

Chairman

H.E. Maria Camilleri Calleja

Republic of Malta

Ambassador of the Republic of Malta and Permanent Representative of Malta to IRENA Abu Dhabi

15:25 - 15:45

Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy and Industrial Sector in Abu Dhabi

Moderator

Gareth Presch, Founder & CEO, World Health Innovation Summit

Panelist: Eng. Arafat Saleh Al Yafei, Executive Director of Industry Development Bureau, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development

Gareth Presch

World Health Innovation Summit

Founder and CEO

Eng. Arafat Saleh Al Yafei

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development

Executive Director of Industry Development Bureau

15:45 - 16:35

Devoting FPIs Towards a Greener World

Foreign Portfolio Investments have been adhering to ESG and climate goals. This session focuses on current and future projects and initiatives towards sustainable and diverse FPIs 

Moderator: 

K Mohit Bhasin, Partner & Global Co-lead for Economic Growth Practice, KPMG 

Panelists:  

  1. Bilal Sabouni, Managing Director, Guidepoint
  2. Jessica Cheam, Founder and Managing Director, Eco-Business 
  3. Wolfgang Engel, General Manager and Chief Representative of the IIF's Middle East & Africa Regional Office, Institute of International Finance
  4. Lukasz Holubowski, CEO, Rafako  
  5. Takaaki Nakamura, Business Unit Manager, NIFCO Inc.

Mohit Bhasin

KPMG

Partner, Global Co-Lead of Economic Growth Practice

Bilal Sabouni

Guidepoint

Managing Director

Jessica Robinson

EY Parthenon

MENA Sustainable Finance Leader

Jessica Cheam

Eco-Business

Founder and Managing Director

Wolfgang Engel

Institute of International Finance

General Manager and Chief Representative of the IIF's Middle East & Africa Regional Office

Lukasz Holubowski

Rafako S.A.

President of the Management Board

Takaaki Nakamura

NIFCO Inc.

Business Unit Manager

16:35 - 17:35

Creating Resilient Supply Chains to Enhance Growth Opportunities

Creating resilient supply chains and new infrastructure is needed to remain relevant in the 21st century. With ongoing economic tensions and disruptions, economies are slowly shifting away from globalization. Rising costs has forced economies to rethink their policy in emerging markets to keep up with the paradigm shift and achieve a durable recovery.  This in turn will create opportunities for technology and innovation for efficient new industries. As supply chain pressures continue to grow and global growth is predicted to slump, recession for most countries is hard to avoid. Creating stronger supply chains and investing in innovative technologies will ease the bumpy road ahead. 

Moderator:  

John Hanna, Managing Director, GDP Global

Panelists: 

  1. Asmae Ben Bahida, CEO, Just BiM iT 
  2. Zorad Egon, Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) 
  3. Dr. Manuel Francisco Pedro, Chairman, Board of Directors of The Luanda-Bengo SEZ 
  4. Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, CEO, Ghana Export Promotion Authority 
  5. Andrew Hoad, CCO, Gulftainer 
  6. Dr. Assia Ben Saad is Director of Cooperation & Partnerships at the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency
  7. Mohamed Kassem, Chairman, Egyptian Exporters Association Expolink

John Hanna

GDP Global

Managing Director

Egon Zorad

Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency

Director of Foreign Trade Department

Dr. Manuel Francisco Pedro

Luanda-Bengo SEZ

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Dr. Afua Asabea Asare 

Ghana Export Promotion Authority

Chief Executive Officer

Mohamed Kassem

Egyptian Exporters Association Expolink

Chairman

Close of Conference Day 1


19:30 – 22:30

AIM Investment Awards 2023 and Gala Dinner


8:00 – 10:30

Breakfast Networking - Investment Track: AIM 2023 – Investment Report Launch – Global Data

AIM in partnership with GlobalData and Investment Monitor invite you to an exclusive breakfast and panel session at AIM prior to the launch of GlobalData’s Middle East & Africa FDI Report 2023: What is the next leap in FDI for the Middle East Africa region?

Investment Monitor’s FDI Report 2023: A focus on the Middle East & Africa

Moderator

Eleanor Slinger, regional director for Investment Monitor

Panelists:

  1. Glenn Barklie, Principal Economist, Investment Monitor & Head of FDI Services, GlobalData Sam Hall, Chief Digital Officer, GlobalData
  2. Dr. Martin Kaspar, Head of Corporate Development, Fränkische Industrial Pipes
  3. David Parker, International Investment Promotion Specialist


10:30 - 11:30

Bridging the Gap: Establishing Strong International Relationships and Building Trust

Having strong relationships is the backbone to any investment. Maintaining good relationships internationally is even more critical to the success of projects. Successful relationships are built on trust and this in turn will ensure growth long-term. This session aims to look at best practices for building long-term relationships and maintaining them.   

Moderator:

Eleanor Slinger, Regional Director MEA, Investment Monitor

Panelists:

  1. Reginald Yofi Grant, CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre                         
  2. Roger Latchman, Consul-General of Georgia in Johannesburg
  3. Dr. Mazdak Rafaty, Managing Partner, Ludwar International Consulting 
  4. Omar Al Gharabally, President and Partner, Greenstone Equity Partners 
  5. Dr. Martin Kaspar, Head of Corporate Development, Fränkische Industrial Pipes 
  6. Eng. Ahmed Taha, Executive Director, Egyptian Exporters Association Expolink

Eleanor Slinger

Investment Monitor

Regional Director

Reginald Yofi Grant

Ghana Investment Promotion Centre

Chief Executive Officer

Roger Latchman

General Counsel of Georgia

Consul-General of Georgia in Johannesburg

Dr. Mazdak Rafaty

Ludwar International Consultancy FZC

Managing Partner

Dr. Martin Kaspar

Fränkische Industrial Pipes

Head of Corporate Development

Eng. Ahmed Taha

Egyptian Exporters Association Expolink

Executive Director

Daniel Silverman

Investissement Québec International  

Vice President, Foreign Direct Investment

11:30 - 12:15

Digital Transformation: Integrating Innovative Technologies in FDI to Increase Value

Digitalization for economies delivers huge benefits in boosting economic growth. Both technological innovation and FDI contribute to the economic growth and success. Attracting FDI is significant as we aim to go back to pre-pandemic levels of growth. As FDI brings new technologies and innovations, they are an important source of success.  

Moderator:

Matthew Stephenson, Head, Investment Policy and Practice, World Economic Forum

Panelists:  

  1. Saifi Ismail, President, Yalla Group  
  2. Glenn Barklie, Chief Economist, FDI, GlobalData
  3. Krunoslav Ris, CEO, Lumen Spei   
  4. Eng. Ali Abdulhaq Al Baloushi, CEO, EcoX
  5. Behnam Gurbanzada, CEO & Founder, PayZakat.Global

Matthew Stephenson

World Economic Forum

Head, Investment Policy and Practice

Saifi Ismail

Yalla Group

President

Glenn Barklie

GlobalData​

Chief Economist, FDI

Krunoslav Ris

Lumen Spei LTD

Chief Executive Officer

Eng. Ali Abdulhaq Al Baloushi

EcoX

Chief Executive Officer

12:15 – 13:00

Towards Investment Facilitation for Development: How a New Agreement Can Help Grow FDI Flows and Prosperity

Over 110 economies are about to conclude a new agreement at the WTO on Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD Agreement), providing both a roadmap and potential resources to improve investment climates. This is very exciting, as it builds on a strong track record of using the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement to lower time and cost of trade – bringing tangible benefits to both firms and countries – but now applies the same approach to investment facilitation.  

Estimates place the potential welfare gains through improved investment climates at between 0.56% and 1.74% growth in global GDP depending on the depth of the final agreement, which will translate into jobs, revenue and increased prosperity.  

Yet any agreement is only a piece of paper until implemented in practice. This session will explore how governments and companies can work together with international organizations and investment practitioners to implement the IFD Agreement and realize these benefits. 

What are the next steps? What are the main challenges to facilitating investment? How can your company or government be involved to help address them? By how much is foreign direct investment expected to grow? Join this session to find out. 

Moderator:

Matthew Stephenson, Head, Investment Policy and Practice, World Economic Forum

Panelists:

  1. Mohit Bhasin, Partner and Global Co-Lead, Economic Growth, KPMG
  2. Ghada Abdelkader, Senior Vice-President, CE-Invests, Crescent Enterprises
  3. Faisal Al Nabhani, Director, International Relations Department, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman

Matthew Stephenson

World Economic Forum

Head, Investment Policy and Practice

Mohit Bhasin

KPMG

Partner, Global Co-Lead of Economic Growth Practice

Faisal Al Nabhani

Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion of Oman

Director of International Cooperation & Trade Relations

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch & Networking Break


14:00 - 15:00

Quality FDI: Attracting Meaningful Investments for Economic Growth

Attracting investment boosts the economy by creating jobs and driving innovation. However, what type of investment does the economy need? What does it mean to attract quality investments that will add value to the economy?  How do you identify which projects are suitable for foreign investment? 

When is FDI not a good thing for your economy? We need to assess the strategic industries, long-term capital movement and disruption to local industries.  

Moderator

Andreas Dressler, Managing Director, FDI Center  

Panelists

  1. H.E. Vahan Kerobyan, Minister of Economy, Republic of Armenia
  2. Mikheil Khidureli, CEO, Enterprise Georgia 
  3. Hossam Heiba, CEO, Gafi  
  4. Mario Al-Jebouri, Head of Dubai Representative Office, Banque Cantonale de Genève 
  5. Nangula Uaandja, CEO, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board 
  6. Zdenko Lucić, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
  7. Karl Tabbakh, Board Chair, Invest in Canada

Andreas Dressler

Managing Director of FDI Center

H.E. Vahan Kerobyan

Ministry of Economy Republic of Armenia

Minister of Economy

Mikheil Khidureli

Enterprise Georgia

Chief Executive Officer

Hossam Heiba

General Authority for Investment & Free Zones

President

Mario Al-Jebouri

Banque Cantonale de Genève

Head of Dubai Representative Office

Nangula Nelulu Uaandja

Chief Executive Officer of Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB)

Karl Tabbakh

Invest in Canada

Board Chair

15:35 – 16:05

Boosting Capital Markets to Develop Market Efficiency Through FPI

Foreign Portfolio Investments are important to any economy. FPIs help to strengthen and improve domestic capital markets. This session aims to look at how FPI is used to tackle the world’s biggest social and environmental changes. 

Moderator: 

Martin Kunzmann, Director – Production & Content, DDC Financial Group

Panelists:

  1. Jassim Alseddiqi Board Managing Director, SHUAA Capital
  2. Sean He, Founding Partner, Silicon Harbor
  3. Dr. Daghles Murad, Partner / White & Case LLP, Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Martin Kunzmann

DDC Financial Group

Director – Production & Content

Jassim Alseddiqi

SHUAA Capital p.s.c

Member and Managing Director

15:40 – 16:10

Geopolitical Tensions: Mitigating Global Risk in your Portfolio

Geopolitical risks are high on the agenda for any investor. What do you do if your company does business in an unpredictable market? How might regulatory changes affect your business resilience? To manage geopolitical risks, businesses need to ensure they are resilient and adaptable to changes. This session sheds some light on best practices in recovering from geopolitical tensions.  

Moderator

Adam Ward, Director, Geopolitico Insight and Counsel 

 Speaker:   

  1. Radoslaw Domagalski, CEO, Rafako

Adam Ward

Geopolitico Insight and Counsel

Director

Radoslaw Domagalski

Rafako S.A.

President of the Management Board

16:10 – 17:00

Leveraging Super Trends in Investment to Create Resilient Portfolios

In order to stay ahead, investors need to tap into the super trends that will shape the world. Climate change is top of the agenda with political leaders shifting priorities for sustainable investment.  This session will look at the current disruptors in the market and focus on where the industry is headed to.

Moderator

Bruno Delaye, Vice President Senior ADIT, ESL&Network   

Speaker

  1. Fahad Attamimi, CEO, Four Trade B.V
  2. Tafadzwa Chinamo, CEO of Zimbabwe Investment & Development Agency
  3. Dr. Holger Bingmann, President, National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce

Bruno Delaye

ADIT

Senior Vice President

Fahad Attamimi

Four Trade B.V.

Chief Executive Officer

Tafadzwa Chinamo

Zimbabwe Investment & Development Agency

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Holger Bingmann

National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce

President

17:00

Close of Conference Day 2


10:05 – 10:50

Sustainable Investment Opportunities in FDI

Research suggests that sustainability is integral to investment decision-making globally and increasing massively. This is predicted to grow and not only will it be imperative to include ESG in new investments, but it is also a powerful driver for a sustainable future. How do we encourage the development of sustainable technologies and how to integrate ESG going forward. 

Moderator:

Gareth Presch, Founder & CEO, World Health Innovation Summit

Panelists:  

  1. Stephania Bonilla, Senior Economic Affairs Officer – Investment Promotion & Facilitiation for Sustainable Development, UNCTAD 
  2. Andrew Clutz, Head of Economic Development, Tractus 
  3. Isamu Koyama, Representative Director, Japan Innovation Park General Incorporated Association
  4. Karie James, Expansion Director, Regen Organics

Stephania Bonilla

UNCTAD

Senior Economic Affairs Officer – Investment Promotion & Facilitiation for Sustainable Development 

Isamu Koyama

Japan Innovation Park General Incorporated Association

Representative Director

Karie James

Regen Organics

Expansion Director

10:50 – 11:35

Moving to Net Zero and Decarbonizing your Portfolio

The sustainability revolution is the biggest impact on investment globally. Investors will align their portfolios with a net zero economy. In order to reach the goals of net zero 2050, new ways of thinking need to be applied. Exploring the latest thinking on net zero transition plans 

Moderator:

Eric Van Honk, Director, AMPOWR  

Panelists:

  1. Hiro Mizuno, CEO and Representative Partner, Good Steward Partners, LLC
  2. Jon Moore, CEO, BNEF 
  3. Muhamad Yusrizki, Chairman, KADIN Net Zero Hub 
  4. Abhay Bhargava, VP and Regional Leader for E&E, Frost & Sullivan 
  5. Timucin Engin, Senior Director and the Cross-practice Country Coordinator for the GCC region based in Dubai, S&P Global
  6. Anas BaChar, Founder & Managing Director, Sprezzatura Advisors

Eric Van Honk

AMPOWR

Director

Hiro Mizuno

Good Steward Partners, LLC

Founder and CEO

Jon Moore

BloombergNEF

Chief Executive Officer

Muhammad Yusrizki

KADIN Net Zero Hub

Chariman

Abhay Bhargava

Frost & Sullivan

Vice President– Energy & Environment and Sustainability Practice

Timucin Engin

S&P Global

Senior Director and the Cross-practice Country Coordinator for the GCC region based in Dubai

Anas BaChar

Sprezzatura Advisors

Founder & Managing Director

12:30 – 12:40


Mr. Dawood Al Shezawi

President of Annual Investment Meeting - UAE

Weixi Gong

UNIDO's Investment Promotion Division and Coordinator for the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices

Chief

12:40 – 13:40

The Technology Track: The Effect of the 4IR and the IIoT on Boosting Industrialization Investment plans

Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR is one of the trending directions in

industrialization in the coming decades; 4IR involves specifically four technologies:

High-speed Mobile Internet, AI & Automation, the Usage of Big Data Analytica, and

Cloud Technology. In 2022, the industrial IoT segment, automotive, Surveillance &

Security are expected to account for the largest share of the smart manufacturing

market. This panel shall highlight the latest global trends, with regard to the

industrialization technology, The complexity of the industrialization and the

development of Tech-Start-up, and the convergence of Operation Technology (OT)

and Information Technology (IT) and the unlocking of new business opportunities

and its effect on the investment plans.

 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)

 Supervisory Controller & Data Acquisition (SCADA)

 Enterprise Resource & Planning (ERP)

 Distributed Control System (DCS)

 Human Machine Interface (HMI)

 Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

 Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

Moderator:  Dr. Weixi Gong, Chief, Division of ITPOs and Institutional Partnership - UNIDO 

Weixi Gong

UNIDO's Investment Promotion Division and Coordinator for the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices

Chief

Ubaydli Al Ubaydli

President - Arab ICT Union

Dr. Krunoslav Ris

Chief Executive Officer - Lumen Spei LTD & Digital Transformation Consultant

Alexei Yuzhakov

CEO & Founder of Ujin Technologies, RDI Robots.

Ali Eslami

CEO, AXL Electric Vehicles Inc, Canada

Jassem Al Shikar

EEA Board Member and Head of Industrial Committee - Emirati Entrepreneurs Association

13:40 – 14:40

The Investment Track: Opportunities, Challenges & Risks of Investing in Industrial Sector

The smart manufacturing market is expected to reach $446.24 billion by 2029,

growing at a CAGR of 21.5% during the forecast period of 2022-2029. The growth of

the smart manufacturing market is attributed to factors such as the increasing

number of government initiatives to promote industrial automation, the rising

number of investments in Industry 4.0, growing demand for safety regulation

compliance, and high labor costs in developed economies. However, the high capital

and operating expenses and a lack of standardization for technology platforms are

some of the major factors restraining the growth of this market. This panel shall

discuss the global investment opportunities and challenges, as well as investment

geographical & segment directions.

 Directing Investments to IIOT and the ROI question: Challenges &

Opportunities

 Cross industry Collaborations, merges and acquisitions

 4IR and the investment in R&D: How does Investment in R&D affects 4IR

with respect to GERD, Patent applications, and number of scientific journal

publications

 The lack of the competition in the financial and banking sector

 Bridging the investment Gap

 Promoting the Integrative Economy Plan

 Foreign Direct Investments and High-tech Industries

Moderator: Dr. Weixi Gong, Chief, Division of ITPOs and Institutional Partnership - UNIDO

Weixi Gong

UNIDO's Investment Promotion Division and Coordinator for the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices

Chief

Ayman El Tanbouly

Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at Exits MENA

H.E. Fabio Righi

Minister of Industry, Handicraft & Trade, Technological Research, Regulatory Simplification – Republic of San Marino

Mr. Wu Yabin

Head UNIDO ITPO Beijing

Sonya Janahi

Global Entrepreneur & Board Member - Bahrain Chamber

Reem Baghdadi

Chairwoman - Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women

Gowtham Daas

Senior Manager | Investment Facilitation

14:45 – 15:00


H.E. Mubarak Ali Al-Mansoury

Executive Director-ADAFSA

Mr. Dawood Al Shezawi

President of Annual Investment Meeting - UAE

15:00 – 16:00

The Technology Track: The Development in Responsible Investment Trends in Global Agribusiness and Food Security: Encouraging the Flow of Money in Agriculture & Food Sectors


David Albertani

CEO - R20

David Cogut

Pegasus

Partner - Pegasus Capital Advisors

Reuben Benjamin

Founder – ANIMA

Dr. Shamal Mohammed

Director – Agritech & R&D

Daniel Goldstein

Group CEO - Elements Talent Consultancy

José Francisco Fernández Serna

E-motion / Freshko DMCC

Managing Director Middle East- Blendhub

Andrzej Voigt

President of the Board – EIC Accelerator Fund Poland

Dr. Ashraf Hamouda

in charge Partnerships in the GCC Region – FAO

Dr. Beatrix Henkel

Managing Director – Hempy People General Trading LLC

Daniel Solomon

Founder - HeroGo

Farah Chakhachiro

Vice President Gracia Group

16:00 – 17:00

The Investment Track: The Development in Responsible Investment Trends in Global Agribusiness and Food Security: Encouraging the Flow of Money in Agriculture & Food Sectors


Dr. Ashraf Hamouda

in charge Partnerships in the GCC Region – FAO

David Cogut

Pegasus

Partner - Pegasus Capital Advisors

Reuben Benjamin

Founder – ANIMA

Dr. Shamal Mohammed

Director – Agritech & R&D

Daniel Goldstein

Group CEO - Elements Talent Consultancy

José Francisco Fernández Serna

E-motion / Freshko DMCC

Managing Director Middle East- Blendhub

Andrzej Voigt

President of the Board – EIC Accelerator Fund Poland

Dr. Beatrix Henkel

Managing Director – Hempy People General Trading LLC

Daniel Solomon

Founder - HeroGo

David Albertani

CEO - R20

Farah Chakhachiro

Vice President Gracia Group

10:00 - 12:00

Value Creation in Cities & Communities - EXPO Dubai Group

Cities are the modern frontier for sustainable development and today, home to over 56% of the world’s population. They account for more than 60% of global CO2 emissions and by 2050, nearly 70% of the world’s population will call cities home. Expo City Dubai embraces the principles of sustainable urban development and in its own design, utilized a holistic values-driven approach to create a positive outcome for people and the planet. 

The Expo Dubai Group’s 360 Advisory is uniquely positioned to provide insight, experience, and expertise to city and community stakeholders and support them to adopt a values-driven, holistic approach to address the unique challenges that they face. The advisory will have a broad perspective and will consider the many layers that make up a city including the physical, operational, experiential, & programmed environments; the cultural and social context; and the virtual environment.   

The broad perspective is supported by deep domain expertise in a wide range of specializations to provide comprehensive and holistic support including strategic consulting, sustainable urban development, sustainable planning and design, sustainable city operations, next zero cities, and de-carbonization, as well as program and stakeholder management.   

Opening Remarks:

Nadia Verjee, Executive Director, Expo Dubai Group

Workshop Leader:

Monte Wilson, Global Market Director and Global Vice President for the Built Environment, Jacobs

Nadia Verjee

Expo Dubai Group

Executive Director

Monte Wilson

Expo Dubai Group

Global Market Director and Global Vice President for the Built Environment, Jacobs

Daniel Render

Expo Dubai Group

Senior Advisor Sustainable Cities

Lara El Saad

Expo Dubai Group

Senior Manager City Advisory

Misha Mittal

Expo Dubai Group

Senior Manager City Advisory

12:00 - 14:00

What are Future Cities? How can FDI be leveraged to deliver Future Cities'

Smart Cities and Future Cities. This workshop covers the global demographic and tech trends, the enabling smart city policies and programmes, plus top tips on how to use FDI to create competitive city regions. This workshop is of interest to all who live in and are involved in promoting cities.

14:00 - 15:30

The Making of Smart and Sustainable City: Implementing smart and sustainable city projects through Private-Public-People Partnership (PPPP) – WeGo

The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) will organize a workshop to engage in and facilitate conversations around the topic of smart city development, which is widely WeGO’s fundamental principle is based on Private-Public-People Partnership (PPPP), interconnecting cities, corporations, public institutions and citizens into the mix of partnerships formed. Both the public and private sector conjoin and collaborate to discover ideas for human-centered innovation or digitalization of services using smart technologies. recognized as an important tool driving economic growth.

One of WeGO’s main activities is the matchmaking solution. When partners share their projects in search of the right partnership, WeGO’s vast global network assists to solve urban challenges and expand collaboration opportunities. Members and partners share their smart city challenges and projects via WeGO Smart City Driver and we analyze the received proposals, then identify and connect possible solution providers and funding opportunities.

This workshop will specifically focus on the practicalities of making a smart and sustainable city through PPPP. Indeed, there are many factors to consider to make a successful urban transformation, such as navigating complex regulatory systems, financing, capacity for implementation, and accessibility. 

This workshop will be an opportunity to share your urban challenges with WeGO and create a momentum for collaboration in implementing smart and sustainable city projects in your city. The workshop will be open to policy makers, officials from local and central governments and other interested stakeholders in the smart city field and encourage participants to engage in an interactive and open discussion around the actual challenges faced when developing smart and sustainable cities.

Workshop Leader:

Eunbyul Elena Cho, Head of Program Department, WeGO

Eunbyul Elena Cho

WeGo

Head of Program Department

10:00 - 11:30

SME Session

SMEs Workshop 1 – International Trade Centre (ITC – She Trades) - Power Up Your Business 

  • Understanding key barriers and bottlenecks for women in trade, with a special focus on UAE 
  • Building awareness on trade and gender dynamics through gender-sensitization activities 
  • Improving your business competitiveness to trade internationally 
  • Spotlighting tools (including demo session) to support women in trade, eg. Shetrades.com, SheTrades Invest tool, Self-assessment tool, ITC Trade Maps, etc. 

Ms. Anna Zaleski Mori

Partnerships and Programme Manager, ITC SheTrades

Ms. Kritee Sharrma

Associate Programme Officer, ITC SheTrades

11:30 - 13:00

INSME: Bringing Innovation to the Market

Innovation today is more important than ever and even though most of the technological innovations come from R&D, technology itself is not enough, it must be coupled with a market opportunity.  The workshop will introduce SMEs to strategies and tools on how to: 

  • Gain customer insights 
  • Develop new products that match customers’ needs 
  • Develop a solution with a solid value proposition  
  • Create a go-to-market strategy 

Dr. Giovanni Zazzerini

Secretary General – International Network for SMEs

15:30 - 17:00

Enhancing SME Access to Finance: Financial Inclusion perspective

The workshop aims to discuss mechanisms and initiatives to improve SME access to finance, as one of the pillars of enhancing financial inclusion, access to financial services for SME, and attracting new segments of companies to the banking sector. 

Dr. Ahmed Khalil

Head of SME Business Development – Banque Misr

10:00 - 11:30

Startups Workshop 1 – Tick & Talk

Crafting a Winning Investor Pitch: 12 Essential Components to Impress Investor

In this session, you will learn how to craft a winning and captivating investment pitch deck. It will cover the 12 essential elements that constitute a successful pitch, including tips for crafting a compelling story, creating a strong value proposition, and showcasing your team's expertise. With practical examples and real-world insights, you'll gain the knowledge and skills to impress investors and secure the funding you need.

Omar Hamada

Moderator: Founder & CEO – Tick & Talk

11:30 - 13:00

Startups Workshop 2 - WBAF: What do angel investors learn before they invest in startups?

The objective of this exclusive workshop is to introduce investor mindset and strategies to those considering raising fund from corporate ventures, angel investors, crowdfunding platforms, VCs, banks, public grants, co-investment funds, business plan competitions, family offices, and private equity investors. The workshop aims to give the basic principles of investors and to-dos and not-to-dos while raising fund as a qualified entrepreneur and a startup founder.

AIM Participants of this workshop will be awarded a WBAF Business School Certificate and provided a free access to the WBAF Financial Inclusion Center.

Workshop Leader:

Baybars Altuntas, Executive Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)

Baybars Altuntas

Executive Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)

14:00 - 15:30

Startups Workshop 2 – HUB 71: A Startup's Guide to Corporate Partnerships: Master the art of pitching and discover techniques to create a winning proposition that unlocks growth opportunities

The objective of this workshop is to provide startups with a deeper understanding on how to structure their pitches specifically for corporations. Startups who attend this workshop will further enhance their skillset to allow them to capitalize on growth opportunities. 

Basma Albadi

Growth & Strategy - Hub71

Jeremy Shorter

Assistant Vice President – INNOVATION - Aldar Corporate

15:30 - 17:00

Startups Workshop 2 – Founders Institute: 7 C’s of Startup Strategy

For startups, working in ever-changing and sometimes volatile environments poses a challenge to strategy setting. This entails Entrepreneurs to keep their strategy documents alive and frequently-visited to accommodate the evolving factors surrounding their startups. This workshop is meant to guide Entrepreneurs to the underlying factors contributing to them setting a strategy that is solid, subjective, and versatile.

Dr. Hanan El Basha

Director Qatar & GCC – Founder Institute, & Founder - The Business Doctor | Empowering Business Strategist

08:00 - 09:45

Registration


10:00 – 10:05

Opening Remarks


10:05 – 10:50

Global Leaders Debate, Part 1: The Future Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity, and Prosperity

As the world recovers from the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the investment world is going through a paradigm shift that will transform the global investment landscape and investment world. The global economy is adapting to the ‘new normal’, there are many factors that accelerate the new paradigm. This session will focus on how disruptive technologies, climate change and geopolitical tensions as well as the pandemic are all factors that the economy is faced with. 

Panelists:

  1. Rebecca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD 
  2. Antonio Pedro, Acting Secretary General, Economic Commission for Africa 
  3. H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department for Economic Development  
  4. Khalid Ali Al-Ruwaigh, CEO, Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp) 

Antonio Pedro

Acting Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Khalid Ali Al-Ruwaigh

Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP)

Chief Executive Officer

10:50 – 11:05

Fireside Chat


11:05 – 11:50

Global Leaders Debate, Part 2: The Future Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity and Prosperity

As the world recovers from the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the investment world is going through a paradigm shift that will transform the global investment landscape and investment world. The global economy is adapting to the ‘new normal’, there are many factors that accelerate the new paradigm. This session will focus on how disruptive technologies, climate change and geopolitical tensions as well as the pandemic are all factors that the economy is faced with. 

Panelists: 

  1. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General, Arab League  
  2. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Secretary General, Africa Caribbean Pacific (OACPS) 
  3. Sergio Diaz-Grandos G., Executive President, Development Bank of Latin America 
  4. Ray Dalio, Founder, Bridgewater Associates 
11:50 - 12:50

AIM Global 2023 Opening Ceremony


13:00 - 14:00

Lunch & Networking Break


14:00 - 15:00

Future Cities: Digital Transformation: Integrating Innovative Technologies

After a decade of disruption, this session explores how digital transformation has impacted future cities and how we navigate going forward. What major trends are affecting business and investment, and what needs to be done. With innovative technology on the rise, we need to understand where the next wave of technology and disruption is coming from and how this will impact the market.

Moderator: 

Ms. Valeria Brusnikina, Portfolio Manager of IT projects - the IPChain Association, Deputy General Director - n'RIS, General Director - FONMIX, & Director for Development - the Russian Union of Right-holders.

Ms. Valeria Brusnikina

Portfolio Manager of IT projects - the IPChain Association, Deputy General Director - n'RIS, General Director - FONMIX, & Director for Development - the Russian Union of Right-

H.E. Sergey Cheremin

Minister of Moscow City Government Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow

Jawad J. Abbassi

Head of MENA, GSMA

Steve Severance

Director of Growth – Masdar City

Gareth Presch

World Health Innovation Summit

Founder and CEO

Dr. Mengsha Tan

Founder & Chairwoman - Mensa Group

Alexander Pinsky

Director for International Activities of Sitronics Group

15:00 - 16:00

Start-ups: Contributing to Economic Growth 

Start-ups are a catalyst for economic growth locally and globally. They are needed to boost the economy with the help of innovative technologies. Economies are more likely to stay ahead with new opportunities and ideas. We will be Exploring the power of data and insights to promote start-up ecosystems. Start-ups need to ensure sustainability is at the forefront of their policies. Understanding what the regional indicators are and what value this adds to both the economy and portfolio. Securing investments after economic downturn. 

Moderator: 

Waheed Qaiser, Chairman, Pairstech Capital Management  

Waheed Qaiser

Chairman, Pairstech Capital Management

Gilbert Ewehmeh

Continental Coordinator, Accelerate Africa

Elodie Robin

Head of Growth & Strategy, Hub71

Suleiman Amin

Acting Managing Director - Catalyst

Numan Numan

Founder and Managing Director, 212

Abdul Basit Qayed

Principal, Dubai Future District Fund

Dr. Kim J. Zietlow

Director FDI Center

Baybars Altuntas

Executive Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)

16:00 - 16:45

Panel Discussion: SMEs - Movers & Shapers: Boosting Opportunities for Women in Trade (She Trade - ITC)

Session Objective: The panel session aims to showcase key industrial insights and best practices to advance women’s economic empowerment in various sectors. The session aims to inspire transformative action from private and public section to address the gap in the economic opportunities for women.

Moderator: Anna Zaleski Mori, Programme Officer – SheTrades Initiative, International Trade Centre

Ms. Anna Zaleski Mori

Partnerships and Programme Manager, ITC SheTrades

H.E. Alia Al Mazrouei

CEO - Khalifa Fund

Carl Manlan

Visa Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Vice President, Inclusive Impact & Sustainability

Christina Struller

de Costa, Vice President, Corporate Affairs - ISMEA, UPS

16:45 – 17:45

SME: Scaling the Technology Market and Implementing Technological Solutions 

Innovative technologies are not only shaping everyday life but is one of the main factors for economic growth. With constant new technologies on the horizon, which ones do you take forward and which ones will impact your business the most? This session explores the SMEs technology market, looks at what businesses can achieve through digitalization, how digital transformation affects the expansion of SMEs in international markets and offers insights into building a digital architecture. 

Moderator: 

Jane Thomson, Founder – Supernova Data, Interim Chair – World Metaverse Council (Forbes 2018 & Top 20 Global Thought Leaders in Crypto (Thinkers 360))  

Jane Thomson

Founder – Supernova Data, Interim Chair – World Metaverse Council (Forbes 2018 & Top 20 Global Thought Leaders in Crypto (Thinkers 360))

Dr. Krunoslav Ris

Chief Executive Officer - Lumen Spei LTD & Digital Transformation Consultant

Sebastiano Toffaletti

Secretary General (CEO) - European Digital SME Alliance, Chairman - European Cybersecurity Organization, Board Member - European Internet Forum, & Board Member ETSI (M)

Mohamed Aboulnaga Nagaty

Executive Chairman – Exits MENA, Founder/CEO – Pie, CoFounder of Halan, & Partner/Co-Founder – Cashcows

Heesuk Ricky Kang

Head of Business – Naver Z (ZEPETO)

Jawad J. Abbassi

Head of MENA, GSMA

Daniele Schiliro

Associate Professor – University of Messina

17:50

Close of Conference Day 1


19:00 - 22:00

AIM Investment Awards 2023 and Gala Dinner


9:00 – 10:00

Registration & Breakfast Networking


10:00 - 10:05

MC Welcome Remarks Opening Ceremony - China Top 50 Unicorns


10:05 – 11:00

Panel Discussion: Sustainable Development & Social Value Creation in a City Context (In Partnership with Expo City Dubai)

What do you do after delivering the most diverse and sustainable World Expo in history? With the team behind Expo 2020 Dubai already preparing to host COP28 in 2023, we find out what it takes to transition from a megaevent to a future city built for purposeful living. Twice the size of Monaco, Expo City Dubai is leading the way to becoming a clean, green, innovation-driven city of the future and a blueprint for sustainable urban planning. This panel will address what it takes to create a purpose-built city and a livable city for its community. 

Moderator:

Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham, MC, Moderator, Media Coach & CEO - RME Media & Communications

Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham

Moderator, Media Coach & CEO - RME Media & Communications

Dina Storey

Senior Director - UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators

Oliver Kraft

Executive Vice President Sustainable Communities - Siemens

Nadia Verjee

Expo Dubai Group

Executive Director

Matt Brown

Chief Sustainability Officer – Expo City Dubai

12:30 – 13:00

Opening Ceremony: Arab China Unicorn Investment Conclave


Dr. Wissam Fattouh

Secretary General Union of Arab Banks (TBC)

Mariam Gao

General Secretary of Arab China Unicorn Investment Conclave, Organizer GDIS

H.E. Fatou Haidara

Managing Director, Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

11:15– 12:30

Unicorns: Urban Connectivity in Turbulent Times

When it comes to operating in an uncertain economic climate, Unicorns are of the entities facing a lot of challenges. As the world is recovering, one thing for sure is that we are living in increasingly turbulent times. These unprecedented times require us to assess current situations which will define the pathway in the coming years. For many startups, hitting unicorn status is a big item on the bucket list. However, as the tech industry continues to slow, so too has the number of new unicorns emerging.

As the contours of post turbulent times start to take shape, there has been uncertainties in the future of Unicorns specialized in future cities. This in turn will transform how businesses operate and set their policies including climate change and diversity. Are disruption and uncertainty the ‘new normal’ and how do we adjust?

 Moderator: Romanna Dada, Head of Ventures -PWc Middle East

Walid Mansour

CEO - Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)

Mohamed Salah

Oman Programs Manager - Brinc

Kareem Elsirafy

Managing Partner – Modus

Mansoor Madhavji

Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund and LP at Loyal VC & Draper Goren HolmAntek

Antek Kałuża

Creative Director - Econverse & Vice President of Warsaw Startup Club.

Marianna Bulbuc

CEO & MP of Bizzmosis Group

Sean He

Founder – Silicon Harbour Capital

13:00 - 13:30

Unicorns Pitch Presentation – Unicorns from China will showcase their Top Innovation Projects and pitch their growth plans and potential for investors.


Presentation: WUXI City Fund Park


13:30 – 14:00

Awarding Ceremony for Top China Unicorn “UNICORNS SOCIAL IMPACT AWARDS” Recognizing Partners, Sponsors, and the Top Technology Solution Providers from UAE and China and the Best Investment Opportunities in Technology


14:00 - 14:45

Constructing Visions for the Future of Smart Cities (In partnership with We Go)

At AIM Global 2023, the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) will be organizing an Interactive High-Level Dialogue on “Constructing Visions for the Future of Smart Cities,” gathering mayors and experts who will be sharing their visions and progress towards building future cities involving smart innovation in the city environment, specifically taking into consideration the values and goals of sustainability, inclusivity and human-centeredness. The session will provide the timely opportunity for mayors, city and state representatives, international organizations, and business actors to identify the growing trends in digital innovations and smart initiatives for solving urban challenges and for building smart future cities. The invited high-level speakers will be encouraged to elaborate on their visions for cities of the future and the importance of aligning the values and goals of sustainability, inclusivity and human-centeredness with the construction of current and future cities. The session is open to all stakeholders at all levels, the dialogue is expected to facilitate synergies and areas of collaboration at a multi-level, multi-sector scale.

Opening Remarks/Congratulatory Remarks:

  • Jung Sook Park, Secretary-General – WeGO
  • H.E Omar Al Nuaimi, Director General of Corporate Affairs at the Department of Municipalities & Transport (DMT) 
  • Shin Hawn Oh, Deputy Mayor of Seoul - South Korea

Moderator: Eunbyul Cho, Head of Program Department - WeGO

Eunbyul Elena Cho

WeGo

Head of Program Department

Hermenegildo Gualberto

CITY GOVERNMENT OF SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION

Mayor - San Fernando La Union

14:45 – 15:45

Unicorns: Global Economic Outlook – Forecasting the Investment Market

Offering a timely look at the global investment market and the impact on SMEs and future cities. Recent trends and technologies around the globe have given a boost to enable start-ups to move forward and contribute to the success of future cities. From infrastructure to innovation: what are the trends around the globe? Boosting the economy by creating an environment for start-ups.

Moderator: Omar Hamada, CEO & Founder, Tick & Talk


Omar Hamada

Moderator: Founder & CEO – Tick & Talk

Mehdi Fichtali

Founder and CEO of FinaMaze

Mahmod Shamsi

Head of Business Development - Startup Blink

Rodrigo Garca De La Cruz

Founder & CEO – Finnovating

Nitan Pathak

Senior Head of Unit, Institutional Client Relationship - European Investment Fund

Bruce Armstrong

Aspen Medical

Group Chief Executive Officer

Ge Jun

TOJOY SHARED HOLDING GROUP

CEO - TOJOY Shared Holding Group

Wang Shaojie

Zhong Guancun private Equity & Venture Capital Association

President – Zhong Guancun Private Equity & Venture Capital Association

15:45 – 16:45

Trends in the UAE Shaping the Future of Innovation (In Partnership With Hub 71)

This panel session will address the UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem, highlighting government support, the diverse sources of capital, in addition to access to market and talent. The panel will also discuss the role of collaboration, mentorship, and education in addition to the challenges facing founders who are looking to raise capital, and opportunities to advance innovation.

Moderator: H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Middle East Chairman - Edelman

Ahmad Ali Alwan

Deputy CEO - Hub71

16:45 – 17:45

Building a Unicorn

Currently there are over 550 Unicorn companies worldwide – which is less than 1% of start-ups. What do investors look for when investing in start-ups and how do you ensure success?

Moderator: 

Mohit Bhasin, Partner, KPMG 

Mohit Bhasin

KPMG

Partner, Global Co-Lead of Economic Growth Practice

Chirag Gupta

Managing Partner at 8X Ventures

Andrew Urey

ARC Capital Ltd

Senior Advisor

Harish Consul

Founder, President & CEO, Ocgrow Ventures

Dr. Asher Hasan

doctHERs and NAYA JEEVAN

Founder and Executive Chairman of Naya Jeevan, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of doctHERs

Jan Bartkowiak

Founder & President – Econverse

Malachi Halliday

CEO & Founder – Halliday Growth

Vianney Mathonnet

Partner - Africa Modus Focused Fund

17:45

Closing Remarks


18:30 – 22:30

Desert Gala Dinner Cultural Entertainment Activities Networking with Top Investors (By Invitation Only)


10:00 - 10:05

Innovation & Technology Track: MC Opening Remarks 


10:05 – 11:05

Fireside Side: SMEs: Sustainable Climate Finance Initiative: A new approach to finance sustainable infrastructure and agriculture projects in emerging economies (In Partnership with R20, Pegasus & Gold Standard)

Significant financial resources are needed to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of a changing climate. The blended finance approach aims to catalyze private investment for sustainable development and create impact at scale to close the climate finance gap. The session will showcase how blended finance can have a strong role in driving climate change mitigation and adaptation. Panelists will share ideas on how to unlock, mobilize, and de-risk private capital at scale for climate resilient infrastructure and sustainable agriculture, while generating market returns. Technical assistance and capacity-building can further serve to incubate projects and de-risk private sector investment in a pipeline of investible business models that generate measurable environmental, social and economic impact as part of this approach. 

The Session will feature real-life examples of such blended finance vehicles such as the Subnational Climate Fund. Through the innovative consortium that brings together Pegasus Capital Advisors, Gold Standard, R20 and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), SCF is designed to direct finance where it is most needed, manage unforeseen negative impact in a transparent way, and deliver genuine sustainable impact that is both measured and independently verified. The panelists will discuss specificities of these type of funds and opportunities for replication and scaling up. It will also showcase hands-on examples of high-impact projects and platforms with market-based solutions to scale and deliver positive impact in a sustainable way. 

Interviewer:

David Albertani, CEO - R20

Interviewee:

 David Cogut, Partner - Pegasus Capital Advisors

David Albertani

CEO - R20

David Cogut

Pegasus

Partner - Pegasus Capital Advisors

11:05 - 12:05

Digital Economies: Implementing Industry 4.0 – Developing the Right Tools and Platforms 

Digital transformation is at the forefront of projects and identifying the most impactful technologies will give you a head start in investments. The market for Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to double over the next 5 years. Companies that have invested in digitalization have proven more resilient to global changes. This session takes a deep dive into the best use of new technologies and innovative technologies to look out for.  


Moderator: 

Rabih Farhat, Founder & Managing Partner – Related Inc. 

Rabih Farhat

Related

Managing Director

Mustapha Zaouini

Fliptin Startup Studio | Ai in Africa

Venture Builder | Entrepreneur | Change Maker

Dr. Giovanni Zazzerini

Secretary General – International Network for SMEs

Padmini Gupta

CEO & Co-Founder – Xare

Davide Giribaldi

Head of GRC & Information Security – Swiss Cyber Com

Sherif ELMASRY

Founder and CEO – Maverika & Chief Commercial Officer and Partner – Macber

Lorenzo Saa

CSO - Clairty AI

Ibtisam Al Saadi

Departmant of Economic Development

Industrial Development Head

12:05 - 13:00

SMEs: Navigating Investments in the International Landscape, and the Adaptation to Evolving Needs and Expectations: SMEs Investment Challenges and Opportunities

In recent years, investments in international landscape have become more complex as the world responds to recent events. Whilst economies have tightened their rules and introduced new measures, it is vital to keep on track of economies worldwide. This session discusses the main sectors which attract SMEs investments worldwide, the geographical map of SMEs investments in 2023/2025 – Investments’ destinations, the most challenging/disabling and the most enabling markets for SMEs investments worldwide in 2023/2024. 

Moderator: 

Dr. Hanan El Basha, Director Qatar & GCC – Founder Institute, & Founder - The Business Doctor | Empowering Business Strategist.

Dr. Hanan El Basha

Director Qatar & GCC – Founder Institute, & Founder - The Business Doctor | Empowering Business Strategist

Dr. Jyothi Devakumar

Healthspan Action Coalition (Director) and Purusha Venture labs (CEO and Founder)

Luca Lazzaroli

Portfolio Management and Monitoring Directorate

Director General

Ayman El Tanbouly

Co-founder and Chief Investment Officer at Exits MENA

Jason Channell

Managing Director & head of Sustainable Finance – Citi Global Insights

Shameem Ahsan

President, Venture Capital & Private Equity Association of Bangladesh (VCPEAB)

Amier Alawadhi

Masdar City

Acting Head – Masdar City Free Zone

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch Break and Networking


14:00 - 15:00

SMEs: 2023 Trends – Implementing Smart Business, Innovation, Inclusivity and Sustainability through Future Cities

Cities today are faced with environmental, social and economic challenges so how do we move them to become smart, resilient, sustainable and inclusive? One of the 2023/2024 SMEs trends is the role of SMEs in building future cities and the integration of SMEs in future cities trends. SMEs are competing to offer innovative services within future cities, through providing solutions to socio-economic problem, as: optimizing transportation flows, real time city information, designing urban planning projects, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This session discusses the new trends and tracks of investment for SMEs, among which are the Smart Cities track. where a lot of SMEs are directing their investments to what is called smart businesses and digital technologies to serve the development of the smart cities.

Moderator:

Anna Tutova, CEO - Coinstelegram


Anna Tutova

CEO - Coinstelegram

Shadi Atshan

Leaders International

General Director

Rachel Soomee Cho

Meissa

Chief Business Officer (CBO)

Miguel Eiras Antunes

Deloitte

Public Sector, Infrastructures, Transportation & Regional Government, Central Europe Leader, & Smart Cities & Urban Transformation, Global Leader – Deloitte

Karim Gad

Country Focal Point – Deutsch Investitionen für Beschäftigung (Investing for Employment – IFE Germany)

Country Focal Point – Deutsch Investitionen für Beschäftigung (Investing for Employment – IFE Germany)

Ahella El Saban

Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Exits MENA

15:00 – 16:00

Future Cities: Tapping into New Technologies and Navigating Transformational Technologies of the Future

Embracing digital transformation not only helps businesses become more innovative, they will lead the way in the success of future cities. We need to harness the potential for innovative technologies to transform cities, and implement them into current projects. A deep understanding of how business models work is needed in order to remain agile and resilient.  

Moderator: 

Carlo Ratti, Director of the Senseable City Laboratory at MIT and a leading expert on the intersection of technology and urban development

Panelists: 

  1. Saurabh Verma, ICT Senior Director. Frost & Sullivan 
  2. Xhoana Merkaj, COO, Xh&M Construction Group 
  3. Dan Hu, Vice President at Tencent Cloud International for MENA Region, Tencent 
  4. Marcel Sebastian Ionescu, Co-founder & CTO, TRAC Consulting 
  • Steve Severance, Director of Growth – Masdar City
  • Badr Burshaid, Chairman - Global Project Management

Carlo Ratti

Director of the Senseable City Laboratory at MIT and a leading expert on the intersection of technology and urban development

Saurabh Verma

Frost & Sullivan

Senior Director, ICT Practice

Xhoana Merkaj

Executive Director, Xh&M Group

Dan Hu

Tencent Cloud International

Vice President for Middle East and Africa, Tencent Cloud International

Marcel Sebastian Ionescu

Co-founder & CTO - TRAC Consulting

Steve Severance

Masdar City

Director of Growth, Head of Program Management and Marketing

Badr Burshaid

Chairman - Global Project Management

Ali Eslami

CEO, AXL Electric Vehicles Inc, Canada

16:00 - 16:30

Start-up Pillar: Awards Ceremony


16:30

Close of Annual Investment Meeting 2023


14:00-16:00

ASEAN Centrality: Innovating Towards Greater Inclusivity

Investing to the New Epicenter of Global Growth: ASEAN

The Varying Economic Size, diverse markets, and fast-moving population of Southeast Asia present tremendous opportunities for global investors. The 10 economies are growing massively in the last decades supported by regional vision under the ASEAN umbrella. The recent developments in multiple sectors namely digital economy, sustainable energy, and high-tech industry attract international eyes to see ASEAN as the future base of global growth. How would ASEAN grow in the upcoming years, and in what ways global investors may tap into the opportunities to be part of this highly promising regional growth?

The ASEAN region was among the fastest-growing regions in 2022 and is expected to remain so in 2023. This year, under Indonesia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN and the theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, Indonesia will direct its efforts to strengthen ASEAN cooperation and capacity to respond to regional and global challenges.

Through the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) as the leading voices of Southeast Asia business, Indonesia’s Chairmanship has set up the priority, agenda, and legacy of ASEAN-BAC’s regional policy reforms, with a focus on digital transformation, sustainable development, health resilience, trade and investment facilitation, and food security. Find out how your businesses may contribute to a stronger regional economic integration.

M. Arsjad Rasjid P.M.

Chairman of ASEAN Business Advisory Council and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN)

Clayton Allen Wenas

Vice Chairman for Investment KADIN Indonesia and CEO of PT Freeport Indonesia

Dr. Aladdin D. Rillo

Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Steven Marcelino

CEO & Managing Partner of Equatorise Advisory UK

Andrew Naylor

Global Head of Public Policy, World Gold Council, and Supervisory Board Member, EU-ASEAN Business Council

Kartika Candra Negara

Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Dubai

Muhammad Yusrizki

Chairman for Net Zero Hub, KADIN

16:30 - 17:30

Russia - Middle East: Cooperation for Economic Growth and People's Well-Being

Russia has stable economic ties with a number of Middle Eastern countries but lately, its trade, economic, and business dealings with them have been trending upwards. The increase in cooperation is resulting in a favorable investment climate and in opportunities for doing business, localizing manufacturing, and implementing large joint projects. Cooperation between Russia and Middle Eastern countries is currently intensifying in a broad range of areas, including investment activity, the development of high-tech sectors of the economy, urban development, healthcare, and social and cultural sectors. What are the countries of the Middle East region interested in today in terms of specific areas of cooperation and attracting new business partners from Russia? What opportunities for interaction have not been sufficiently tapped and have potential for development? Instead of being a barrier, can the new geopolitical challenges become an impetus to the development of relations between Russia and the countries of the Middle East, the implementation of successful joint business initiatives, and the promotion of promising mutually beneficial projects? 

H.E. Maxim Reshetnikov

Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

H.E. Sergey Cheremin

Minister of Moscow City Government Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow

Dr. Amin Al Amiri

Undersecretary of Public Health Policy and the Licensing Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates 

Alexander Stuglev

Chairman of the Board and CEO, Roscongress Foundation 

HE Dr. Khaled Hanafy

Secretary General, Union of Arab Chambers 

Vadim Lobov

President, Synergy Corporation 

Dmitry Kudlay

Vice President for the Implementation of New Medical Technologies, Generium 

Aleksandr Petrov

Chairman of the Subcommittee on Medicines, Development of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry, Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Health Protection 

Mikhail Khomich

Managing Director of VEB.RF; Director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives for Special Projects

Elena Astapenko

Director, Department of Pharmaceutical Provision and Regulation of the Circulation of Medical Devices, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

10:00 - 11:45

Middle East Regional Focus Session

The Flow of Direct Investments to the Arab Countries of the MENA Region: Reality, Opportunities, & Challenges

The Union of Arab Chambers and the Annual Investment Meeting, in cooperation with the League of Arab States and the Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain - UNIDO, are organizing a dialogue session entitled: “The Flow of Direct Investments to the Arab Countries of the MENA Region: Reality, Opportunities, & Challenges”, as a part of the activities held within the Annual Investment Meeting – AIM 2023, during the period between 8-10 May 2023, Abu Dhabi – UAE.

This is in light of the progress made by the Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa region in reforming investment policies during the past ten years, in order to keep pace with the changes that have occurred in the forms of the global economy, and what the Corona pandemic has imposed on the supply chain and the paths that forced the world's economies to follow. However, these reforms still need to be further pursued to the sustainability phase in order to extend the benefits of investments to the region. The World Bank has forecast that the region's economies will grow by 5.5 percent in 2022, the fastest rate since 2016. However, this growth is uneven across the region, as many of its countries are still grappling with the lingering effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, additional pressures from the sharp rise in oil and food prices due to the war in Ukraine, higher global interest rates, as well as slowdowns in the economies of the United States, China, and the Eurozone.

This panel will shed the light on the investment opportunities and the Ecosystem that the region enjoys, the challenges that stand in the way of achieving them, and how to overcome these challenges by developing investment policies and carrying out appropriate economic reforms, especially for the countries which have gone through political crises, led to weakening investors' confidence in their investment ecosystem. The Union of Arab Chambers has been organizing many conferences related to investment, which is an essential part of its role as an official representative of the Arab private sector, to promote opportunities and projects available in the Arab countries and to attract investments. The outcomes of this session will be followed up by a number of events and activities that will be organized by the Union of Arab Chambers with the aim of expanding Arab and African investments.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit

Secretary General of the League of Arab States

Sameer Abdulla Nass

President, Union of Arab Chambers

H.E. Fatou Haidara

Managing Director, Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Dr. Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki

Assistant Secretary General, Head of the Economic Affairs Sector, League of Arab States

H.E Khalil El Haj Tawfiq

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jordan Chamber of Commerce

H.E. Toufic Dabboussi

President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Tripoli and North Lebanon

H.E Mr. Ahmed El Wakil

President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce & President of the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME)

H.E Sadeq Hashem Fadhil Al-Mamoori

Vice President of the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce & President of Babylon Chamber of Commerce

Dr Hashim Hussein

Head - UNIDO ITPO Bahrain

Dr. Khaled Hanafy

Secretary General, Union of Arab Chambers

Mounir Tabet

Deputy Executive Secretary, ESCWA

H.E Mohamed Hage

President, Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry

H.E. Abdulaziz Al-Mikhlafi

Secretary General of the Arab German Chamber of Commerce and Industry

H.E. Herbert Scheibner

AACC Board Member & Former Minister

Hamdi Tabbaa

Chairman of Federation of Arab Businessmen

11:45 - 13:15

Investment Promotion and Facilitation in African-Caribbean and Pacific Countries: State-of-play, Challenges, and Opportunities

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has long been recognized as a key driver of economic growth, prosperity, and competitiveness across countries. Particularly in the Global South, FDI has been viewed as a critical element in promoting sustainable development, given its potential to foster economic advancement. Despite this, FDI inflows have been unevenly distributed, with African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries still struggling to attract FDI. In fact, only 5% of total global FDI inflows have been recorded in ACP countries in 2021. Hence, there is great potential to enhance investment facilitation and promotion efforts, spearheaded by national and sub-national investment promotion agencies (IPAs), thereby accelerating FDI in ACP countries. 

To support ACP IPAs in this undertaking and contribute towards a better understanding of their emerging strategies and technical assistance needs, WAIPA and its partner, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), conducted a joint Survey in 2022, covering 61 IPAs in total in the ACP region.  

The empirical results, which will be presented in this session, highlight the most pressing challenges faced by ACP IPAs. Besides being burdened by a mandate overload and signs of budget shortcomings, ACP IPAs overwhelmingly articulated the need for technical assistance in investment targeting, monitoring and investment opportunity profiling. This need partly stems from the fact that the digitalization of most ACP IPAs is still in its infancy with only limited digitalisation capabilities and often no established digitalization strategies under implementation, although the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation more generally.  

The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play also an important role in the work of IPAs, as a large majority of their strategic plans are at least partially aligned with them. However, a significant proportion of IPAs show shortcomings in soliciting and tracking investors’ contributions especially with regard to their environmental impact or CSR, which can be problematic in a global context where corporate sustainability and environmental due diligence become increasingly relevant. 

Some emerging recommendations are that ACP IPAs should explore ways to better bundle mandates, reviewing budget allocations, and incorporating a business-like structure into their respective governance models. More focus should also be placed on digital tools and related certifications, taking existing strategies into action. IPAs are also advised to focus on target sectors and align promotion efforts closer to the SDGs as well as regularly review their priority sectors to take account of market shifts and track investors’ sustainability contributions. 

To further reflect on these insights, the keynote on the survey will be followed by a panel discussion, inviting Investment Promotion Agencies’ officers to critically assess these results and recommendations. Obtaining feedback from stakeholders evaluating the relevance and feasibility is crucial for the IPAs themselves but also for partners such as UNIDO and WAIPA, to better tailor future support areas to ACP IPAs. 

Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti

Secretary General, Sustainable Economic Transformation and Trade, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)

Ismail Ersahin

Executive Director, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)

H.E. Fatou Haidara

Managing Director, Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Stefan Kratzsch

Team Lead, Sustainability Standards and Responsible Business Unit, Department of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),

Courtney Fingar

Editor-in-chief of Investment Monitor

Escipión J. Oliveira Gómez

Assistant Secretary General, Sustainable Economic Transformation and Trade, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS

Andreas Dressler

Managing Director of FDI Center

Cécile Billaux

Head of Unit, Micro-economic Analysis, Investment Climate, Private Sector, Trade and Employment, European Commission

Anthony Nkinzo Kamole

Managing Director of the Democratic Republic of the Congo National Investment Promotion Agency (ANAPI)

June Chepkemei

MD of Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest)

14:00 - 16:00

The AfCFTA Investment Protocol – An Investment Paradigm Shift for Africa

The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in July 2019 at the 21st Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Heads of State and Government was a milestone towards creating a single continental market as set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. The AfCFTA constitutes the largest free trade area in the world with a GDP of US$ 2.5 trillion, covering a market of 1.2 billion people projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and by then constituting 26 per cent of the world’s working age populationi. Through its eight protocols on Trade in Goods and Services, Free Movement of Persons, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights, Competition Policy, Digital Trade and Women and Youth in Trade, the AfCFTA constitutes a new framework for attracting investment towards promoting industrialization, diversification, and inclusive development in Africa. This is achieved through increased market efficiency and reduced cost of doing business by offering opportunities for economies of scale, facilitation of trade and investment flows and by shifting the composition and direction of foreign direct investment flows into Africa.

The implementation of the AfCFTA is indeed moving forward having reached 54 Member States, with 46 of these having ratified the Agreement. On 1 January 2021, trading under the AfCFTA was launched and an initial step towards realizing the free movement of goods, services, people and capital. It has now considerably progressed with the adoption of the AfCFTA’s three Protocols on Competition, Intellectual Property Rights and Investment.

With the adoption of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol, the investment landscape in Africa is entering a new stage nested in African countries’ aspiration to foster structural transformation and encourage an effective and competitive private sector that translates into sustainable outcomes for the investment destinations. The Protocol addresses the issue of fragmented investment regulatory frameworks by dismantling different investment rules for harmonizing investment regulations and boost transboundary investment in an African Common Investment Area. Thus, all investors guided by the protocol’s common conceptualization of responsible investment would enjoy the same level of protection, benefit from improvements in the business environment, have access to investment facilities and observe identical international obligations. In other words, the Protocol will be levelling the playing field for all private sector actors, and best match Africa’s single market ambition, as the same set of rules will apply across the continent.

Levelling the playing field for transboundary investments in Africa may stimulate the creation of value chains in goods and services, promoting industrialization and economic diversification. According to ECA research, the AfCFTA will promote diversification in new industrialized sectors that support structural transformation compared to more traditional sectors such as oil and mining which will increasingly take a smaller share of the intra-African trade. ECA research estimates that intra-African trade sectors within agri-food, services and industries are expected to increase respectively with 49.1 per cent, 37.9 per cent and 35.7 per cent by 2045 as compared to a scenario without the implementation of the AfCFTA. At the sub-sectoral level, these sectors include cereals and crops, and industries such as pharmaceutical products, vehicles, and transport equipment and in services, tourism and transport are subject for notable increases in intra-African trade.

Initiatives in key sectors that support future investment opportunities that foster sustainable economic growth, diversity and prosperity include the development of an African Carbon Market through the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) which was launched at the COP27 with the long-term ambition to reach 300 million credits retired annually by 2030. Achieving such a commendable ambition could unlock US$ 6 billion in revenue, supporting 30 million jobs by 2030 and enable countries to foster value chain creation, expand energy access while driving climate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Other initiatives with significant potential to leverage the framework of the AfCFTA as a platform for investments that drive the green transition and foster economic growth is the case of the ecosystem for the battery, electric vehicles between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as the project of the Common Agro-industrial Park between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Zambia and DRC have signed a historical cooperation agreement to facilitate the development of value chains in the electric battery and clean energy sector enabling businesses to build regional value chains and capture more added value to their endowments in battery minerals including cobalt, copper, lithium and manganese and profit from the global transition towards green energy, electrification of transport systems and decarbonization. The Common Agro-Industrial Park (CAIP) between Zimbabwe and Zambia will leverage the two countries’ comparative advantages and develop value chains for agricultural goods such as cotton, maize, wheat, rice and dairy. The CAIP will create and strengthen linkages between industries to enhance value chain integration in the region and promote the development of industry skills and facilitate the shifting of economic activity towards higher value-added activities driving economic growth.

H.E. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria

Antonio Pedro

Acting Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Stephen Karingi

Director Regional Integration and Trade Divison of UNECA

Anthony Nkinzo Kamole

Managing Director of the Democratic Republic of the Congo National Investment Promotion Agency (ANAPI)

Aly Ramji

General Partner at Humanity International Investments

Dr. Abdoulaye BALDE

Director General of APIX-S.A

16:30 - 17:30

The Race Is on for a Net-Zero Economy, Catalysed Through ASEAN-Gulf Corridor Links

The world is moving towards a healthier, more resilient, zero carbon world. Now that 73% of global emissions are covered by a net zero goal, countries must translate national commitments into credible policies, while every sector must undergo an exponential transformation. Solving the decarbonization challenge will create economic and societal advantages for the countries, businesses, cities, regions, investors, and communities who emerge as leaders. Within this decade, upgrading to a zero-carbon future can create 35 million more jobs and USD$26 trillion more in economic benefits compared with attempting to resuscitate the high-carbon status quo. Corporate commitments under the Race to Zero campaign now cover over 15% of the global economy and USD$ 9.81 trillion in revenue, joined by nearly 800 cities and 31 regions covering 0.62 billion people with credible climate action commitments. While significant change is already underway, it must accelerate in all areas of the economy and society in order to deliver a resilient zero carbon future in time. To win the race to zero emissions by 2050, the world must achieve near term breakthroughs across every sector of the global economy. The KADIN Indonesia published its ambition during the COP26 in Glasgow to establish Kadin Net Zero Hub which encourages Indonesian private sector to take up the mantle and commit to their net zero pledge: “To Become a Net Zero Company by 2060 at the Latest”. As we are at the midpoint to ASEAN Chairmanship 2023 and looking at how important to race the Net Zero ambition, this session will discuss how we can ensure that the Net-Zero agenda can be the spotlight, can continue the momentum, and can receive the attention it needs. This session is organised by Equatorise Advisory, in partnership with AIM and KADIN Indonesia.

Steven Marcelino

CEO & Managing Partner of Equatorise Advisory UK

Muhammad Yusrizki

Chairman for Net Zero Hub, KADIN

10:00 – 11:30

Regional Focus Forum for Latin America and The Caribbean Productive Development in LAC: Future Strategies

Productive development is a crucial concept for understanding economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The region has long been dependent on the export of raw materials and commodities, which can be subject to price volatility and offer limited opportunities for value-added activities. In recent years, however, many LAC countries have adopted policies and strategies to promote productive development and diversify their economies.

One of the key drivers of productive development in LAC is foreign direct investment (FDI). FDI can bring new  technologies,  management  practices,  and  market  access  to  the  region,  as  well  as stimulate local entrepreneurship and job creation. However, FDI can also be a double-edged sword, as it can lead to the exploitation of natural resources, labor, and weak institutions, which can hinder productive development.

To maximize the positive impact of FDI on productive development, it is necessary to create an enabling environment for investment. This involves a range of policies and strategies that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, human capital development, infrastructure, and access to finance. These policies should be tailored to the needs and strengths of each country and sector, as well as promote social and environmental sustainability.

In this context, the role of the public sector is crucial, as it can provide the necessary regulatory frameworks, public goods, and incentives to attract and retain productive FDI. At the same time, the private sector should play an active role in promoting innovation and competitiveness, as well as engaging in productive partnerships with the public sector and other stakeholders.

Overall, productive development and FDI attraction are closely interconnected and can reinforce each other. Productive development policies can help to create a more attractive investment climate and increase the likelihood  of  positive  spillovers  from  FDI.  Conversely, FDI can  provide  the necessary  resources  and  capabilities  to  accelerate  productive  development  and  generate  more sustainable and inclusive growth.


In sum, the challenge for LAC countries isto strike a balance between attracting FDI and promoting productive development, while ensuring social and environmental sustainability. The focus should be on building productive capacities, enhancing competitiveness, and creating high-quality jobs, while reducing dependence on natural resources and promoting more diversified and knowledge-intensive economies.

Maria Camila Moreno

Executive Director, Free Trade Zone Association of the Americas (AZFA), Republic of Colombia

Ignacio Corlazzoli

Manager in Europe, Asia and Middle East, Latin American Development Bank (CAF), Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Fabrizio Opertti

Integration and Commerce Manager, Inter-American Development Bank, Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Jaime Guillen

Founding Partner, Mexico Infrastructure Partners, United Mexican States

Wagner Parente

CEO, BMJ Consultants, Federative Republic of Brazil

Luis Castiglioni

Minister of Industry and Commerce, Republic of Paraguay

12:30 - 14:30

SADC Regional Focus Forum

Infrastructure plays a key role in economic growth and poverty reduction. Conversely, the lack of infrastructure affects productivity and raises production and transaction costs, which hinders growth by reducing the competitiveness of businesses and the ability of Governments to pursue economic and social development policies. To this end, SADC developed the SADC RIMDP as the Infrastructure Development Blueprint for the SADC Region. The RIDMP is a SADC strategic framework to guide the development of seamless, cost-effective, trans-boundary infrastructure in the region. This SADC Infrastructure Vision 2027 is anchored on five (5) pillars consisting of Energy, Transport, ICT, Meteorology and Water, which constitutes the SADC RIDMP Programme.  

Currently the region has a huge infrastructure deficit characterised by insufficient energy supply, inadequate water supply, reticulation and sanitation systems, inadequate and expensive broadband networks and transport demand exceeding supply and unreliable transport services, among other deficiencies. Significant deficit in Africa’s infrastructure is resulting in increased production and transaction costs, reduced competitiveness of businesses, and negative impact on foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into the continent. This in turn, stunts socio-economic development in the continent, therefore, focusing on priority regional projects is a prerequisite to accelerate infrastructure development in the SADC Region. Therefore, regional infrastructure development in SADC creates a larger market and greater economic opportunities, and the development of infrastructure is critical for promoting and sustaining regional economic development, trade, and investment, and will contributes to poverty eradication and improved social conditions.  

Despite SADC having made significant progress in regional infrastructure development, the economic transformation of the SADC region will require adequate and functioning infrastructure that will guide the region towards front-loading industrialisation in the context of evolving technologies. This means that the Infrastructure Development in support of Regional Integration will aim towards interconnected, integrated, and quality seamless infrastructure and networks, including cross-border infrastructure, which will be pivotal in facilitating the movement of people, goods, services, and knowledge. As a result, in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan – (RISDP 2020-2050) and Vision 2050, priority is also placed on ensuring harmonised policies, strategies, and initiatives in support of cross-border infrastructure and services.  

Estimates by the African Development Bank place the African continent’s infrastructure needs at US$130 billion to US$170 billion a year, with an annual financing gap of between US$67.6 and $107.5 billion. The SADC region would make up about one-quarter of this financing gap (around US$30 billion to US$40 billion per year). This is also aggravated by the fact that SADC governments’ public finances are insufficient to address the infrastructure deficit without external financial inputs, notably from the private sector. For many years the SADC has been trying to close this gap but has been constrained by regional challenges, as well as by limited capacity to mobilize capital and limitations on human and technical resources. 

The SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (2012 - 2027) guides development in key infrastructure such as energy, ICT, road, rail, and ports, and acts as a framework for planning and cooperation with development partners and the private sector. The SADC Infrastructure development agenda is also aligned with the African Union's Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and constitute a key input into the Inter-Regional Infrastructure Master Plan and the tripartite Free Trade Area of SADC, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC).  

The Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan contains ambitious targets, but the SADC region is embarking on the fundamental task of creating an enabling environment by delivering infrastructure requirements by 2027 to facilitate the realisation of sustainable regional socio-economic development and integration within the framework of the SADC Infrastructure Vision 2027. Key to closing SADC’s infrastructure gap require experimenting with new models of project delivery and SADC needs to expand the availability of project preparation financing and attract new sources of capital. Some of the key attributes to achieve this include: 

  1. Availability of a pipeline of bankable projects; 
  2. Financial sustainability of project funding; 
  3. Partnership with private sector in infrastructure development; 
  4. Adoption of the user pays principle 

Investments at Member States level is critical in supporting implementation of the identified projects as implementation of regional projects is at country level. Some of the vehicles SADC has used to prepare regional infrastructure projects include: 

  1. SADC Project Preparation Development Facility (SADC PPDF); 
  2. Infrastructure Investment Programme for South Africa (IIPSA); 
  3. NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD IPPF); 
  4. DBSA Project Preparation Funding (DBSA PPF); 
  5. Southern African Power Pool Project Accelerating Unit; 
  6. Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF);  
  7. SADC Water Fund;  

 As the world recovers from the pandemic, the investment world is going through a paradigm shift that will transform the capital markets and investment world. The global economy is adapting to the ‘new normal’, there are many factors that accelerate the new paradigm. Disruptive technologies, climate change and geopolitical tensions as well as the pandemic are all factors that the economy is faced with. Big economic downturns in China and Russia have resulted in inflation becoming more widespread globally and much higher than expected. With hopes of inflation easing, there is evidence that it will remain at high levels, and this will limit further growth and put pressure on costs. This will lead to triggering tighter financial conditions, making access to investment finance for SMEs and FDI much more difficult.

FDI is on the rise again with digital technologies and sustainability as the main drivers for success. To stay ahead, companies need to accelerate the development of their digital services and technological innovations. 2021 saw a significant increase in FDI which reached US$1.6 trillion as it bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. The global environment for international investment has been affected by the current geo-political tensions which has a domino effect on supply chains. The need for investment in Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) and inclusivity is paramount to the success of FDI. The rising costs of food and energy prices has seen companies reduce demand and diversify supplies of energy. This is in turn creates a major crisis but also creates opportunities for technology and innovation.

The geopolitical tensions and war have seen major effects on commodity markets, supply chains, inflation, and financial conditions have steepened the slowdown in economic growth. As the last 20 years, the rise of globalization, current factors have highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains.

Angela Pretorius

Chairperson of the SADC Investment Subcommittee

Keletsositse Olebile

CEO Botswana Investment and Trade Center (BITC)

RAKOTOMALALA Lantosoa

Chairperson Economic Development Board of Madagascar

Issa Mohamad Soormally

Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, Economic Development Board Mauritius (EDB)

Eng. Edvan Moyo

Programme Officer Energy, SADC Secretariat

Tafadzwa Chinamo

CEO Zimbabwe Investment & Development Agency (ZIDA)

Stella Chimwemwe Ng’oma

Stella Chimwemwe Ng’oma, Director Investment Promotion and Facilitation, Malawi.

Anne Rosette

CEO Seychelles Investment Board

Calicious Tutalife, Ag.

Director Industrial Development and Trade, SADC Secretariat

Aly Ramji

General Partner at Humanity International Investments

Rashed Al Teneiji

Director of Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Economy - UAE

Opening remarks


Setting the scene: World Local Production Forum: Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies


Dr. Jicui Dong

World Health Organization

Unit Head, Local Production and Assistance Unit

Panel discussion: “Navigating the path forward in improving access with collective action after the WLPF”


Heran Borta

Director General, Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority

Prof. Frederick Abbott

Prof. of Law and Consultant, Florida State University College of Law

David Woo

Local Production and Assistance Unit, WHO

Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei

The Executive Director of Research and Innovation Center, Department of Health Abu Dhabi, UAE

Presentation: Driving innovation and Industry 4.0 in local production to improve access


Jason Wang

Director of Intl. Public Affairs, Sales & Marketing Division, SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Panel discussion: “Investing in innovation and technology transfers to improve access and health”


Dr. Rahman Rustan

PT Biopharma, Indonesia

Dr. Jyothi Devakumar

Healthspan Action Coalition (Director) and Purusha Venture labs (CEO and Founder)

Q&A Closing remarks from the Chair


Dr. Jicui Dong

World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Unit Head, Local Production and Assistance Unit, Regulation and Prequalification Department, Access to Medicines and Health Products

Make It in The Emirates: Emerging Opportunities and Industrial Growth

The Panel Session will highlight the investment opportunities in various industrial sectors and the impact of the UAE's economic diversification strategy on local industries.

H.E. Osama Amir Fadhel

Assistant Undersecretary of Industrial Accelerator Sector, Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology

Eng. Arafat Al Yafei

Executive Driector, IDB

Andreas Dressler

Managing Director of FDI Center

Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi

CEO, Emirates Development Bank

Ramy Jallad

CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone

10:00 - 10:15

Welcome Remarks


Jon Moore

CEO, BNEF

10:15 - 10:30

BNEF Talk: Commodities in a Low Carbon Economy

The transition to a low carbon economy will see a dynamic shift in demand for traditional commodities such as oil, gas and metals. Newer commodities like power, carbon, hydrogen and even sustainable aviation fuels will see their landscape change with the net-zero trajectory of both companies and countries. BNEF will present its view on what to expect from the various commodities and energy markets that can move and accelerate the energy transition.

Ashish Sethia

Head of Commodities, Energy & Environmental Markets – BNEF

10:30 - 10:50

Fireside chat: Clean Electrons vs Clean Molecules – What’s the Next Move?

Traditional oil and gas companies dominate the energy markets today and are paving the way for the next generation of “clean energy molecules”. But the dawn of renewable energy and the prospect of electrification of transport and industry bring into question the role of “clean electorns”. What lies ahead for the heavyweight energy producers of the Middle East? Approaching COP28, focus will be on how energy companies, producing nations and energy consuming powerhouses chart their next moves – what is ADNOC’s?

Ibrahim N. Al-Zu’bi

SVP, Sustainability & Climate, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)

Fauziah Marzuki

Head of APAC Gas, Power & Carbon – BNEF

10:50 - 11:05

BNEF Talk: Transition Pathways and the Way Forward for the Middle East

Net zero commitments can only take the world so far. BNEF will present the results of its New Energy Outlook report and the various net-zero pathways that can emerge for countries and sectors. The Middle East is uniquely placed to also play a role in supporting the pathways of other nations.


Emma Champion

Head of Regional Energy Transitions – BNEF

11:05 - 11:45

COP28: Net-Zero Commitments and the Evolving Energy Trade Flows

Net-zero plans of action by major economies are going to change energy flows. Industrial competitive advantages could shift or be disrupted. New policies – such as CABM – will restructure existing supply chains. How can key stakeholders manage this evolution in trade flows along with meeting their energy transition goals?


Antoine Vagneur-Jones

Head of Trade and Supply Chains – BNEF

Ashwani Dudeja

President & Director (Green Hydrogen & Ammonia), ACME Group

11:45 - 12:00

BNEF Talk: Making Hydrogen and CCUS Work for the Transition // Scaling Technologies of the Energy Transition

Clean fuels like hydrogen and carbon capture and storage are touted as anchor technologies for various sectors to successfully achieve deep decarbonization. BNEF will present on what is ‘hype’ and what is ‘reality’ in terms of the hydrogen outlook. Also laying out which sectors will see the biggest uptake of CCUS and what new, emerging climate technologies the industry should be watching for.

Adithya Bhashyam

Associate – Hydrogen, BloombergNEF

12:00 - 13:00

Networking Lunch


13:00 - 13:15

BNEF Talk: Decarbonization Strategies of the New Age Energy Companies

Traditional oil and gas companies are becoming enablers of the energy transition as they transition themselves. BNEF will present on the key trends emerging across both international and national oil companies in terms of decarbonization of operations, clean energy investments and strategic alignment to net-zero trajectories.

Philip Geurts

Oil Analyst, BloombergNEF

13:15 - 13:50

Future of Downstream & Petrochemicals: Maximizing Value from the Barrel of Tomorrow

As the landscape for oil and petrochemicals demand changes, existing producers need to make their assets and products “transition-ready”. How are companies shifting their business models to be aligned with the energy transition while ensuring the best commercial value for products and existing assets? Customers say they want “greener products”, but will the demand materialize? What are the biggest hurdles downstream/petrochemical producers are going to face in the next five years and how will they overcome it?

Sisi Tang

Head of Downstream Oil and Petrochemicals, BloombergNEF

Andreas de Vries

Head of Downstream Strategy and Sustainability, Saudi Aramco

Friedrich Danzinger

Vice President OMV Downstream MEA JV Management

Mustafa Alshehri

Director of Sustainability and ESG, SABIC

13:50 - 14:00

BNEF Talk: A Renewed Focus on Renewable Fuels

Renewable fuels are becoming a key pillar for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, heavy duty trucking and heating. Demand for drop-in fuels continues to rise as corporates sign long term off-take agreements to secure supply from future projects. But supply is still limited as technologies try to scale and policy catches up. This BNEF Talk will be about what’s driving renewable fuels growth and where they might come from next.

Jade Patterson

Renewable Fuels, Senior Analyst, BloombergNEF

14:00 - 14:30

Financiers Making the Transition Happen

Investment in low-carbon energy supply increased by 15% in 2022 to $550 billion – the fastest growth rate since 2015, according to BloombergNEF’s annual Energy Transition Investment Trends report. Yet to meet climate goals, BNEF analysis shows that the ratio of investment in low-carbon energy supply to fossil fuels needs to increase from the current 1:1 to a minimum of 4:1 by the end of the decade. This means that in 2030, for each dollar invested in fossil-fuel energy supply, at least four would need to be invested in low-carbon energy sources. The challenge is massive, but so is the opportunity. So what does recent financing activity say about how the banking community is poised to capture the growth?

Jonas Rooze

Sustainability and Climate Research – BNEF / Will Young

14:10 - 14:50

Financing: What’s the Role of the Finance Industry in Accelerating the Energy Transition?

Ramping up to a minimum 4:1 ratio of low-carbon energy supply to fossil fuels investment requires huge and rapid growth in clean power, grid infrastructure, new clean fuel producing assets, and more. Enabling this will require many things, but not least among them will be access to finance – the channeling of funds where they need to go and where they can have the greatest impact. What is the role of different financial institutions in the transition? How will they use and grow financial markets to work towards it?

Jonas Rooze

Sustainability and Climate Research – BNEF / Will Young

Zoë Knight

Group Head of the HSBC Centre of Sustainable Finance and Head of Climate Change MENAT, HSBC

Shargiil Bashir

Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)

Emmanuel Givanakis

Chief Executive Officer, Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market

Vijay Bains

Chief Sustainability Officer, Emirates NBD Bank

14:50 - 15:00

BNEF Talk: The Past, Present & Future of Carbon Offsets

Voluntary carbon offsets are often considered the black sheep of emission reduction strategies, but they are essential for companies to reach their net-zero goals. With offsets spanning global nature-based and technology-based solutions, the investment opportunity in the market is becoming more prominent, as are the market’s risks. Demand is surging even before the necessary frameworks have been put in place for the market to grow sustainably. Depending on how suppliers react and decide to navigate an increasingly complex web of initiatives and frameworks created to standardize and potentially bifurcate the market, the price of offsets could rise significantly, valuing the market at $1 trillion annually by the mid 2030s. What role can the MENA region play in this market?

Layla Khanfar

Carbon Offsets & Corporate Sustainability Analyst, BloombergNEF

15:00 - 15:05

Closing remarks


Dana Perkins

Head of EMEA, BloombergNEF

Opening Remarks


H.E. James Zhan

Executive Director, UNCTAD World Investment Forum

Basmah Al Mayman

UNWTO

Regional Director for Middle East, UNWTO

Dawood Al Shezawi

President, Annual Investment Meeting

Mr. Rashed Al Teneiji

Director of Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Economy - UAE

Keynote speech and setting the scene (video message)


Natalia Bayona

Director, Innovation, Education and Investments, UNWTO

Setting the scene: UNWTO’s Tourism Investment Vision and Activities


Miguel Angel Figueroa Calsina

Investment Principal, Innovation, Education and Investments, UNWTO

High-Level Panel Session: - Investing in People - Investing in Planet - Investing in Prosperity


Sri.K.S.Srinivas IAS

Principal Secretary, Fisheries & Tourism

Nicolas Mayer

Global Tourism Leader, PWC Global Tourism & Hospitality Center of Excellence

Adrian Artimov

Vice-President & Co-Head of Enrolment Sommet Education, Glion Institute of Higher Education I Les Roches Global Hospitality Education I Ecole Ducasse

Jordan Bray

Plug And Play

Vice President and UEA Director, Plug and Play

Peter Mihaly Janech

Coordinator, Word Tourism Organization

Sarah Payne

Director of Impact, Reset Tourism Fund

YUANYUAN TANG

Vice President, Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting

Radhika Arapally

Founder, Sustainability Kiosk, Sustainability Advisor for Anantara Dubai The Palm & Anantara World Islands, Minor Hotels

Closing remarks


09:00 – 09:30

Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks


Dr. Wissam H. Fattouh

Secretary General - Union of Arab Banks

Mohamed El Etriby

Chairman – Union of Arab Banks

Mr. Dawood Al Shezawi

President of Annual Investment Meeting - UAE

H.E. Ahmed Aboulgheit

Secretary General – Leagues of Arab States

09:30 – 10:45

Panel Discussion: Digital Transformation of Financial Sectors in the Arab World and the Role of Financial Technology in Economic Diversification

As the world becomes increasingly digital, financial services are also rapidly transforming to keep up with the changing times, the Arab world has been witnessing a significant shift towards the digital transformation of its financial services sector, it outlines the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities that are shaping the digital transformation of the financial services industry in this region and It provides an overview of the current state of the industry, highlighting the progress made so far as well as the gaps that still need to be addressed. This session highlights the key opportunities and challenges of Digital Transformation in the financial sector within the Arab World.

H.E. Su Xing

Secretary General, Organizing Committee of the Boao Summit Forum on World Financial Firm Technology, People’s Republic of China

Anwer Kotob

Chief Digital/Technology Officer, People Leader, UAE

Mr. Hossam Heiba

General Authority for Investment and Free Zones

Mehdi Fichtali

Founder and CEO of FinaMaze

Padmini Gupta

CEO & Co-Founder – Xare

Malachi Halliday

CEO & Founder – Halliday Growth

Rodrigo Garca De La Cruz

Founder & CEO – Finnovating

Mustapha Zaouini

CEO, Fliptin

10:45 – 12:00

Panel Discussion: Emerging investment opportunities in light of Arab economic transformations and the policies adopted for economic diversification and the contribution of international financial and banking institutions

The Financial Services sector is an important component of a well-diversified portfolio. The sector encompasses a large group of companies including mega banks, regional banks, assets, managers, custody, banks, consumer finance companies, transactions and payment processors, securities, brokerage firms, and insurers. Financials make up a significant portion of the overall GDP and are extremely important in ensuring the economy functions efficiently. Playing such an integral role in the lives of consumers businesses and institutions, financial services companies should be a key component of investors’ portfolios. This session shall discuss the emerging investment opportunities within an economically diversified environment.

Mrs. Maryia Spartalis

International Speaker and Financial Influencer

Hani Idris

Regional Manager/CEO – International Development Bank

Mohamed Aboulnaga Nagaty

Executive Chairman – Exits MENA, Founder/CEO – Pie,CoFounder of Halan, & Partner/Co-Founder – Cashcows

Ahmad Tabbara

Director-Fundraising and Ventrues, Monty Holding, UAE

Basil Moftah

General Partner - Nclude

12:00 – 13:00

Masterclass: Financial Inclusion and the Role of Emerging Technologies – The Rise of Fintech and its Impact on the Traditional Financial System

Financial inclusion refers to the process of providing access to financial services such as credit, savings, and insurance to those who are excluded from traditional banking systems. These people typically belong to low-income groups, women, rural residents, and other marginalized sections of society. Financial inclusion is a crucial tool for poverty reduction and economic development. Emerging technologies play a significant role in expanding financial inclusion by offering innovative and cost-effective solutions. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, mobile banking, and digital payments are changing the way financial services are delivered. This session shall highlight the important role of emerging technologies in Financial inclusion in Arab Countries. Fintechs insert themselves at various points along the financial intermediation chain, usually by providing specialized services. The increased competition traditional banks face from fintech is generally beneficial from an economic point of view. Some fintech might fall outside traditional banking regulations, as most jurisdictions allow for more lenient regulatory requirements, or can even be unregulated to some extent, as in the case of DeFi. The way in which fintech inserts itself in the financial intermediation chain, therefore, has different implications for financial stability risks. This session highlights the positive and negative effects of Fintechs on the traditional banking system.

Dr. Mohamed Antably

Chief Commercial Planning & Synergy Officer, and Executive Committee Member – Banque Misr, ex. Head of SMES Committee Federation of

Lunch & Networking Break


14:00 – 15:15

Panel Discussion: Sustainable financing and development financing in the Arab region and the need for transformation to green economy

Sustainable finance provides better returns, as well as helps the Arab countries in making societies more inclusive. Evidence is mounting that sustainable businesses actually offer higher returns for investors and the state of the Arab environment has highlighted environmental challenges and recommended solutions, However, the endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) combined with the provisions of the cope 28 which took and followed as a module, demands a new perspective to identify the requirements of financing sustainable development. This session highlights the development of a comprehensive model for Sustainable finance practice in the Arab World.

Dr. Ali Audi

Director of Research Dept., Union of Arab Banks

Mr. Nasser Al-Qahtani

Executive Director - the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND), Saudi Arabia

Eslam Mahdy

Managing Consultant – Guidehouse Berlin

Dr. Khaled Khaled W. Al-Gazawi

Chief Executive Officer - Ebdaa For Microfinance – Bahrain

Nirav Choksi

Co-founder & CEO – CredAble

Jason Channell

Managing Director & head of Sustainable Finance – Citi Global Insights

Maher Al-Serkali

15:15 – 15:45

Fireside Chat: Web3 and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) in the Arab World

Discussing the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in Web3 technology in decentralized finance to shore up governance and risk management and how to shift smoothly from a centralized to a decentralized new modern economy and make sure the central banks have full responsibility and control of the formulation of monetary policy and regulations and how to eliminate intermediaries by allowing transaction process through emerging technology like Web3.

Abdulrahman Almokla

Chief Executive Officer - Rudder Consultancy

Mustafa Kheriba

Executive Chairman, Iceberg Capital, UAE

15:45 – 17:00

Panel Discussion: The establishment of an Arab rating agency to assess the investment climates in the Arab region, taking into account the specificity of the region

Credit rating agencies operate in assessing the ability of States, companies, and financial institutions to fulfill their obligations, as with other financial markets, Arab markets are the subject of a sovereign rating. This session highlights the realities of Arab financial markets and the impact of the credit rating on them, with the proposed establishment of an Arab classification agency which has become imperative as Arab governments increasingly move towards engagement within the global economy. The session highlights as well the absence of a local or regional Arab agency with criteria proportional to the local environment of the Arab States.

Zouhour Jomaa

Research Analyst – United Nations Business News Writer Reporter Asharq with Bloomberg

Dr. Adnan Ahmad Yousif

Chairman - Bahrain Association of Banks

Mr. Richard Mikhael

Founder & CEO, Propulse, UAE/France

Mr. Tarek El-Ghazaly

Regional General Manager, National Bank of Egypt

Sankar Chakraborti

CEO – Acuite Ratings & Research Limited

17:00 – 17:30

Interview: Security, Privacy, and Lack of Infrastructure - The Challenges Facing the Arab Countries to Achieve Full Inclusion

Access to financial services is critical to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Financial inclusion thus remains a key development concern, which has become more acute with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The restrictive measures adopted by many governments to curb the spread of COVID–19 have led to income losses, with the most serious impact felt by low-income households. However, many risks with regard to security, privacy, and lack of infrastructure in the Arab world affect the efficiency of the financial inclusion plan. This session highlights the risks and the opportunities.

Davide Giribaldi

Head of GRC & Information Security – Swiss Cyber Com

Dr. Ali Audi

Director of Research Dept., Union of Arab Banks

Closing Ceremony & Declarations of The Future Finance Forum - AIM 2023


Panel 1: The Role of Distressed Real Estate in a Diversified Portfolio

  • How are fund managers thinking about distressed investing and what are the opportunities available to investors in this space?
  • Discussion on the current economic environment and how rising interest rates are creating a unique set of opportunities for distressed debt investors that have not been seen for over a decade.
  • While the upcoming year will bring increased investment opportunities, the panel will explore the factors that could limit this growth, including the absence of covenants in credit documents, the amount of dry powder in the market, and the maturity wall not ramping up until 2025.
  • What opportunities are available to lenders in the face of increasing market dispersion, truncated restructuring processes, and sharp price reactions in the secondary market resulting from borrower friendly credit documentation?

Georgios Tomaras

Country Manager - Greece & Cyprus, AURA Real Estate Experts, GR

Hans-Jörg Baumann

Chairman of StepStone Private Debt, CH

Federico Gaito

Managing Director, Taurus Asset Management, ES

Christophe Beauvilain

Managing Partner, Pygmalion Capital Advisers, UK

Break | Networking Meet with a global community of investors and market leaders


Panel 2 : Global NPL Investing: Strategies & Opportunities

  • This session will explore the world of global distressed and non-performing loan (NPL) investing, providing insights into the strategies and opportunities available in this space.
  • Discussion on the different asset classes in this sector of the market, including real estate, corporate, and consumer debt, the secondary market, and explore the directions the market is heading in due to macroeconomic forces.
  • Panelists will share their experiences and analysis of investing in distressed and NPL assets across different geographies, including emerging markets and developed economies. They will discuss the challenges and opportunities of investing in these markets, taking into account macroeconomic conditions, industry-specific trends and the unique regulatory and legal frameworks that govern these transactions.

Edwin Harrap

Director, Alantra, UK

José Nestola

Founder & CEO, Copernicus Group, ES

Konstantin Kraiss

Managing Director, LynxCap Investments, CH

Martin Machon

CEO, APS Group, CZ

Inam ur Rahman

CEO & Co-Founder, Oasis Global Consulting, USA

Introduction and Announcement of the UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2023


H.E. James Zhan

Executive Director, UNCTAD World Investment Forum

Panel: An overview of the major global investment-for-development challenges: the key priority sectors for SDG-relevant investment across the board, including sustainable infrastructure, food security, health, and water and sanitation.


H.E. James Zhan

Executive Director, UNCTAD World Investment Forum

H.E. Louopou Lamah

Minister of Trade, Industry and SMEs, Guinea

H.E. Hossam Heiba

President, Egyptian General Authority for Foreign Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and Vice President of WAIPA

Maria Camila Moreno

Executive Director, Free Trade Zone Association of the Americas (AZFA), Republic of Colombia

Ignacio Corlazzoli

Manager in Europe, Asia and Middle East, Latin American Development Bank (CAF), Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Panel: Investment in the energy transition: looking at international investment trends in renewables, energy efficiency, and electrification infrastructure.


H.E. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria

Ali Eslami

CEO, AXL Electric Vehicles Inc, Canada

Investing in the Future .. Creating Opportunity. Driving Growth.


Matthias Alexander Buchler

ADX Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer

Renyl Rauf

Bayanat CFO

Amitender Sahi Sahi

ADX Manager Product & Platforms

Ram Meyoor

Presight CFO

Invest in Abu Dhabi: Creating a hub for R&D hubs: Placing innovation at the heart of economic progress

Abu Dhabi is an established global centre for research and development. Across the emirate, big thinkers are working on solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change and food security to medical breakthroughs and early childhood development. As the UAE capital’s innovation ecosystem has expanded, more companies have selected the UAE capital for new R&D centres, creating a virtuous circle and supporting the growth and development of the wider economy. Partnerships across the ecosystem, where other organisations are both collaborators and value generators, have been another key feature of the Abu Dhabi story. This panel will look at how Abu Dhabi has succeeded in delivering its strategy to stimulate innovation and create a sustainable R&D base and ask what is needed to take the ecosystem to the next level.

Brittany McDonough

ADIO Head of Relationship Management

Haitham AlSubaihi

ADIO Acting Executive Director

Mansoor Al Marar, Vice President

Industrial Business Development, KEZAD group

Amier Alawadhi

Acting director of Masdar City Free Zone, MASDAR CITY

Khalid Bin Hadi

Siemens Energy – MD

Alex Aliper

Insilico Medicine- CEO

Fadi Sbaiti

AEROFARMS- General Manager

Panel: Navigating the Web3 & Virtual Asset Investment Landscape: Opportunities in Asia and the Middle East

- Understanding the two-way flow of investments across leading Web3 & virtual asset hubs
- How to accurately identify, define and ‘value’ web3 companies
- What is the Greater Bay Area and why is it an untapped resource for the Middle East?

Lucy Gazmararian

Founder & Managing Partner, Token Bay Capital

Angelina Kwan

Managing Director, Stratford Finance

Anthony Sar

Founder & CEO, Finoverse

Wai Lum Kwok

Senior Executive Director, Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority

15:10 - 15:30

Fireside Chat with Binance


Dominic Longman

Senior Executive Officer, Binance Abu Dhabi

Angie Lau

Editor-in-Chief & Founder, Forkast Labs

Exploring the Intersection of FinTech, Virtual Assets, & Web3

  • Should we be doubling down on new technology, or proceeding with greater caution?
  • Regulating innovation: Balancing success and safety in a fast-growing fintech landscape
  • What are the upcoming challenges and opportunities that the ecosystem will encounter in the next 3-5 years?

Annabelle Huang

Managing Partner, Amber Group

Igor Pesin

Founder and CEO, Dexy

Vincent Chok

CEO, First Digital Trust

Annie Hui

COO & Co-Founder, Custonomy

Panel Discussion: Powering the Future of Virtual Assets: From Exchanges to Financial Innovation

  • How can financial institutions and FinTechs utilise tech to maximize their efficiency and profitability?
  • Personal lessons from founding and growing a startup, sharing best practices
  • How can the mainstream adoption of virtual assets be accelerated with financial innovation?

Wayne Huang

Co-Founder & CEO, XREX

Toya Zhang

CMO, BIT

Angelina Kwan

Managing Director, Stratford Finance

Ronit Ghose

Future of Finance, Global Head, Citi

Talal Tabbaa

CEO, CoinMENA

16:40

Closing Remarks


Session 1: Empowering and transforming the operations of IPAs in LDCs

In 2022, in collaboration with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and OCO Global, WAIPA launched an intensive program aimed at advancing the capabilities of IPAs of francophone LDCs. With a total of 5 training workshops, 3 roundtables, and 1 concluding Conference, the focus of this pragmatic program has been to enhance the capacity and capabilities of the respective IPAs.

Furthermore, the Francophone LDC program activities were structured by carrying out  individual background research on each participating member and the prevalent domestic conditions, as well as a pre- survey to define the participants’ needs. This approach has enabled to effectively address the unique opportunities and challenges facing the countries both individually and regionally.

Therefore, on similar lines, WAIPA proposes to organize a session for the LDC IPAs that will focus on their respective potential opportunities and existing constraints in engaging with potential investors. The focus will be on supporting and refining the IPAs’ strategy in engaging with the private sector, from the attraction stage to the aftercare of investment. 

Ismail Ersahin

Executive Director – CEO, WAIPA

H.E. Ahmed Ali Bazi

Minister, Ministry of Economy, Industry and Investments, Comoros

Mr. Laurent Sansoucy

Director, OCO Global

Ms. Hang Tran

Senior Coordinator, Enhanced Integrated Framework Executive Secretariat at the World Trade Organization

Ms. Aïssata Lam

Director General of APIM, Mauritania

Mr. Dushyant Thakor

Deputy Executive Director, WAIPA

Ms. Latifa El Bouabdellaoui

Director General, Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT)

Session 2: Attracting and Promoting SDGs-aligned Investments in LDCs through regional cooperation

SDG17 emphasizes the importance of partnerships in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering collaboration between governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. In line with this goal, IPAs play an important role in building and sustaining effective partnerships to promote sustainable investments that align with the SDGs. Regional cooperation is a key factor in attracting investments to LDCs, as it enables IPAs to pool resources and expertise, develop joint strategies, and create a more attractive investment environment.

This session will tackle SDG17 (Partnership for the Goals) and showcase how IPAs can benefit from regional cooperation and relevant investor networks to achieve their goals. Moreover, the session will also draw on the discussions held in the multiagency Executive IPA College, particularly in reference to Module 4 “Effective investment promotion networks and Partnerships for sustainable development and COVID-19 Adaptation”.

Courtney Fingar

Fingar Direct Investment

Courtney Fingar, Founder & Principal, Fingar Direct Investment

Mr. Yofi Grant

CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC); Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, WAIPA

Dr. Stefan Kratzsch

Sustainability Standards and Responsible Business Unit, Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade, United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Dr. Stephania Bonilla-Feret

Senior Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Anthony Nkinzo

Managing Director of the National Investment Promotion Agency, Anapi

Mr. Mohit Bhasin

Partner, Global Co-lead for the Economic growth practice at KPMG

Session 3: Climate FDI and the role of IPAs in partnership with the World Economic Forum

More than $3 trillion of investment is required each year to achieve national climate goals and decarbonize (UNEP 2022). The foreign direct investment that supports climate actions – known as climate FDI – can play an important role in providing both the capital and knowledge to reach national and global climate goals.

However, this requires creating the right enabling environment to unlock, attract, and facilitate climate FDI.

 The World Economic Forum, together with WAVTEQ, is publishing a Guidebook to help IPAs create such an environment through targeted policies and measures. This session will preview the Guidebook just before it is officially published. The session will especially seek to hear from firms, IPAs, and other key actors on the next steps that are needed to drive this important agenda, especially in LDCs.

WAIPA can play a catalyzing role, convening IPAs to exchange and cooperate on facilitating climate FDI, including through a potential climate investment alliance that is being discussed.

 Join us to learn the latest, frontier thinking on how to grow climate FDI, and to share your views on what’s needed next for the climate and investment agendas to work hand-in-hand. This will create new opportunities for firms in the growing area of FDI projects aligned with climate goals, as well as opportunities for government to attract and facilitate these kinds of projects, and thus help deliver on their development goals.

Dr. Matthew Stephenson

Head, Investment Policy and Practice, World Economic Forum

H.E. Hossam Heiba

President, Egyptian General Authority for Foreign Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and Vice President of WAIPA

Nangula Uaandja

Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Chief Executive Officer

Santiago Bañales

Managing Director, Iberdrola Innovation Middle East

Muhammad Yusrizki

KADIN Net Zero Hub

Chariman

Session 4: Promotion of Tourism Investments in LDCs In collaboration with UNWTO


Miguel Angel Figueroa

Investments Principal, Innovation, Investments and Digital Transformation, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Mr. Dushyant Thakor

Deputy Executive Director, WAIPA

Natalia Bayona

Director, Innovation, Education and Investments, UNWTO

Ms. Diana Kouyate

Managing Director of APIP-Guinée

Sarah Payne

Director of Impact, Reset Tourism Fund

Ms. Sumegha Sugandh

Assistant VP at Invest India

Josielle Rafidy

Director General, CEO, EDB Madagascar

Award Ceremony: WAIPA Investment Award Honoring Exemplary Adaptation of Investment Policies by IPAs


MC Day One Opening Remarks


Imad Eddine Oubiri

Sr. Advisor, Director of Community Services & Industry Engagement – American University of Ras Al-Khaimah

Opening Remarks


Dr. Hashim Hussein

Executive Director - World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum

H.E. Dr. Khaled Hanafy

Secretary General - Union of Arab Chambers

H.E. Abdullah Mohammed Al Mazrui

Chairman - Abu-Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Official Entrepreneurs Investment Summit Opening


HE Dr. Ahmed Abu El Gheit

Secretary General - League of Arab States

HE Dr. Haidara Fatou

Deputy Director General and Managing Director, Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations, and Director General’s Special Representative for Africa

H.E. Sameer Abdulla Nass

H.E. Sameer Abdulla Nass, President at - Union of Arab Chambers

HE Ahmed M. El Wakil

President Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME)

15:00 – 15:10

Panel 1: Supporting Green Entrepreneurship: Greening SMEs for more Competitiveness and Sustainability - Opportunities for SMEs in a greener value chain

Re-manufacturing, repair, maintenance, recycling and eco-design have a great potential to become drivers of economic growth and job creation, while at the same time, making a significant contribution to addressing environmental challenges. SMEs and entrepreneurs need a supportive environment to move towards a circular economy. In our time SMEs shall turn the environmental challenges into opportunities in order for them to be able to compete in a time competitiveness became a high risk. SMEs are usually in dynamic and competitive markets and they operate on a business logic. Unless there are incentives for alternatives and those alternatives are easy to access most business owners’ default to the easiest and cheapest option. This session highlights how can we prepare an enabling ecosystem for Green Business owners, in order to encourage for more sustainable business for SMEs; policy; promoting legal and institutional incentives, providing financial & cultural enabling ecosystem, supporting network, building human capacities, and facilitating access to markets.

HE Dr. Nasser Yassin

Minister of Environment, Lebanon

Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning

Managing director - Creative Business Network, Denmark:

Douja Ben Mahmoud Gharbi

CEO RedStart Tunisia Accelerator and President DAMYA Angels

Dr. Ahmed Nasser

Green Hub

Osama Rais

Head of the Entrepreneurship Unit and Digital Transformation Expert, Arab Organization for Agricultural Development

Hatem Mohammad AbouOllo

Founder of Saber Incubators & Accelerators

Special Session “Fostering International Partnerships Energy and Environment - Call for High Impact Cleantech” by UNIDO ITPO Italy


Phillip Sellwe

Managing Director Bayon Holdings, Botswana

Samuel Okioro

Co-founder Drop Access, Kenya

Roger Mori Pizzino

CEO Ciclo, Peru

16:15 – 16:25

Special Initiative UNIDO Global Call 2023 "Clean and Smart Energy for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development”


Mr. Wu Yabin

Head UNIDO ITPO Beijing

Panel 2: Improving SMEs Access to Finance: Finding Innovative Solutions to Unlock Sources of Capital in MENA Region and the African Continent

SMEs represent 90% of the businesses and more than 50% of employment worldwide and contribute to up to 40% of national income GDP in emerging economies, making it very important to think about new sources of capital for SMEs. Access to finance is a key constraint to SME growth; keeping in mind that about half of formal SMEs don’t have access to formal credit. This gap is even larger when micro and informal enterprises are included. MENA is perceived to be a high-risk region in terms of correspondent banking relationships (CBRs); One of the major dangers of de-risking is that it can exclude entire communities and business sectors from the global, regulated financial system. This not only erodes financial security but also impacts local economies. In this environment, the domestic SME sector often finds it more difficult to access banking services than larger corporates. This, in turn, stifles entrepreneurship and innovation.

This Panel shall discuss the barriers to finance in 2022/2023, and the tools for improving access to finance and unlocking sources of capital for SMEs.

Reem Badran

Founder MENA Business Women Network Panelists

Dr. Wissam Fattouh

Secretary General Union of Arab Banks (TBC)

Pauline Koelbl

Founder/Managing Partner - ShEquity’s

Baybars Altuntas

Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum

Michel Fossaert

Board Member - World Union of SMEs

Mohamed Hreimou

Executive Manager - Emirati Entrepreneurs Association

Ali Muqaibal

Chief Executive Officer, Sharakah – Oman

Special initiative Dr. Rascha Ragheb, Executive Director of National Training Academy, and the Director of World Youth Forum


Rascha Ragheb

Executive Director of National Training Academy, Director of World Youth Forum

10:10 – 11:10

Developing conducive ecosystems for entrepreneurship and innovation

Today there is an urgent need for governments and the private sector to swiftly adapt to the changing market conditions; that take into account the digital transformation. Hence, in order to institutionalize an entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem which takes into account laying the base for promoting domestic investment leading to leveraging foreign direct investment thus leading to the development of global entrepreneurs and SMEs calls for exploring international best practices and strategies in terms of non-financial services and the means of linking them to financial services to achieve sustainable financial inclusion. The base of such interventions will be the availability of effective economic infrastructure, a strong educational system that nurtures entrepreneurship and innovation from a very early age, and eventually a strong government advocacy and policy that promotes entrepreneurship and that is at the same time in strong partnership with the private sector and multinational organizations.

Dr Hashim Hussein

Head - UNIDO ITPO Bahrain

Omar Oz

International Expert - Incubation Management

Abdul F. Al Kayed

CEO - Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation

Dr. Giovanni Zazzerini

Secretary General – International Network for SMEs

Prof. Randa Rizk

Secretary General - Arab Council for Social Responsibility

Dr. Ashraf El Arabi

President - INP

Mahmood Abdulsamad Alyas

Director Support and Services - Ministry of Youth Affairs

11:10 – 12:10

Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs: The Financial, Investment and Educational Shortfalls

Women have made substantial progress in the world of business over the last two decades, and the importance of female entrepreneurship for economic growth is well documented. Even though there have been approximately 252 million women entrepreneurs worldwide, they are still facing real challenges socially, economically, and politically. This Session highlights the resilience, flexibility and strength Women Entrepreneurs have shown throughout the last 3 years in the face of unprecedented adversity, both in the workplace and their communities. In specific, the financial and educational challenges faced by Women Entrepreneurs in combination with the Global Challenges.

Dr. Hanan El Basha

Founder, The Business Doctor & The Global Businesswomen | Senator – WBAF

María Helena de Felipe

Member - European Economic and social Committee & Vice-president - Equality group

Reem Baghdadi

Chairwoman - Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women

Ubaydli Al Ubaydli

President - Arab ICT Union

Reem Badran

Founder - MENA Businesswomen Network

Yemisi Mokuolu

CEO - Hatch Ideas

Panel: Access to Markets - Unlocking Growth in Logistics SMEs & Diversifying Supply Chains

Many factors have affected the low participation of SMEs in international trade; some of them are internal constraints as, the informational barriers, human resources barriers, the higher vulnerability to market developments and high infrastructure costs.  Others are external factors as the standards and technical regulations, logistics processes & services, customs, and other administrative trade procedures. This panel shall highlight the internal and external barriers which hinder SMEs access to markets; Some of the highlighted challenges are high tariffs, costs of products specially in agriculture sector, standards related measures specially for chemicals, cosmetics & machinery, logistics including customs requirements & Harmonized System (HS) Classification, lack of governmental incentives to participate in global value chains, marketing barriers, competitiveness barriers and financial barriers. 

This Panel shall highlight the adopted tools and strategies of unlocking the challenges to the road of access to markets.

Dr. Sara Al Gazzar

Union of Arab Chambers

Senior Advisor

Hu Shuting, CEO Talk Technology, Shenzhen – China

CEO Talk Technology, Shenzhen – China

Sonya Janahi

Global Entrepreneur & Board Member - Bahrain Chamber

Alice Kaboli

Producers Trust - USA

Rabab Khalaf

Head of Planning & Market Intelligence - Export Bahrain

Mohammed Mulla Yaqoub

Assistant Director General for Business Development – Kuwait Direct Investment & Promotion Authority (KDIPA)

Ayman Edris Alawadi

Member – Emirati Entrepreneurs Association

Lunch & Networking Break


14:00 – 14:10

Special Session “Economic Empowerment Activities of the Youth in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation” by Mr. Yunus Sönmez, Director General Cabinet Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum


Mr. Yunus Sönmez

Director General Cabinet Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum

SMEs & Agritech Business: Digital Transformation & IOT’s Role in Boosting Investments in Agriculture SMEs

Agriculture Sector is still the least digitised sector; SMEs in the agriculture sector today must cope with a rapidly changing socio-economic environment and tackle a broad variety of external shocks and stresses such as climate change, and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Applying digital Transformation & IOT in Agriculture sector can pave the way for addressing some of the constraints faced by SMEs in adapting to the rapid changes in the socioeconomic environment, as well it can help in enabling them to compete with large scale agribusinesses. This panel highlights the challenges and opportunities of applying full digitalization to the Agritech business.

Ubaydli Al Ubayldi

President - Arab ICT Union

Miguel Martin

President - SDGs Science, Tech & Innovation Committee WBAF, Spain UNIDO

Mohamed Najjar

Animal Production Expert - AOAD

Imad Hamdan, General Manager Lebanon Fund for Development & Innovation

General Manager Lebanon Fund for Development & Innovation

Daniel Musiita Ssubi

Board Member - World Union of SMEs

Farah Chakhachiro

Vice President Gracia Group

Mohamed Soud

Arab Center Organization for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dryland “ACSAD”

Ahmed Juma Alraeesi

Secretary General - Emirati Entrepreneurs Association

Dr. Muhammad Sharif

Advisor Science and Technology Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Panel: Educational Institutions, Think Tanks & R&D: The Way Forward to Promote Knowledge Based Economy

Innovation is a major engine of economic growth; Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for most of the enterprises, are expected to significantly contribute to innovation. However, it is known that SMEs’ contribution to research and development (R&D) activities is limited. Only 11% of SMEs have achieved product innovation during 2012-2014 compared to 27% for large firms. SMEs are subject to constraints in internal resources such as capital, human resources, and knowledge due to their small size. Also, access to external resources is limited due to market failures. Therefore, SMEs should rely on external business resources to conduct R&D activities; here comes the role of Research Tanks. Meanwhile, SMEs must seek external funding and collaborate with other organizations to obtain advanced knowledge. Thus, SMEs have disadvantages in R&D and innovation when compared to larger firms; SMEs often lack sufficient knowledge and human resources to absorb external knowledge, which is essential for R&D and innovation. This session highlights the relation between think tanks (R&D) and boosting innovation and growth in SMEs; the internal and external challenges, the think tanks role, the challenges of protecting and utilizing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Douja Ben Mahmoud Gharbi

CEO RedStart Tunisia Accelerator and President DAMYA Angels

Dr. Sara Al Gazzar

Union of Arab Chambers

Senior Advisor

Dr. Mourad Mansour

Assistant Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship KFUPM, Saudi Arabia

Filippo Ravoni

Head of local economic analysis - Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Italy

Dr. Jyothi Devakumar

Healthspan Action Coalition (Director) and Purusha Venture labs (CEO and Founder)

Ahmed Shawqi

Managing Director, Middle East, FranklinCovey International Education

Mr. Ahmed Juma Alraeesi

Secretary General - Emirati Entrepreneurs Association

16:10 – 17:00

Fire Side Chat: Entrepreneurship & Orange Economy: an Opportunity to Modernize & Transform SMEs Sectors in Need of New Production Eco-friendly & Sustainable Models – Cultural Tourism, Entertainment Economy & other sectors as examples


Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning

Managing director - Creative Business Network, Denmark:

Entrepreneurs Investment Summit: Closing


HE Dr. Ahmed Abu El Gheit

Secretary General - League of Arab States

HE Dr. Haidara Fatou

Deputy Director General and Managing Director, Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations, and Director General’s Special Representative for Africa

HE Shaikh Ebrahim Al Khalifa

UNIDO Arab International Centre for Entrepreneurship & Investment

Honorary Chairman Board of Trustees

HE Dr. Khaled Hanafy

Secretary General, Union of Arab Chambers 

Dr. Hashim Hussein

Executive Director - World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum

Opening Remarks


Ken Wilson

Key Note Speech (1)

Government Open policies and Social Progress: Creating an Investment-Friendly Environment

How transparency, accountability, and participatory decision-making can contribute to economic growth and to the process of boosting investment, and how governments can create an environment that is conducive to investment and entrepreneurship. The benefits of open government policies for promoting economic growth and social progress, and how successful initiatives that have been implemented in various countries around the world impact the investment climate.


Syed Qassim Naveed Qamar

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh, Investment Department & Public Private Partnership Project, Government of Sindh, Pakistan

The Role of tolerance and coexistence for sustainable economic growth and prosperity

Fostering a Developed Free Market Economy through Educational Policies Promoting Tolerance and Diversity

What is the role of businesses in promoting tolerance and diversity, and how companies can leverage these values to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. What are the connections between education, tolerance, diversity, and economic growth, and the way forward to identify practical strategies for promoting these values in educational settings and in the business world.

H.E. Fabio Righi

Minister of Industry, Handicraft & Trade, Technological Research, Regulatory Simplification – Republic of San Marino

From Local Leadership to Global Competition: The Social Drivers of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

From Local Leadership to Global Competition: The Social Drivers of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

What is the role of social factors such as culture, social networks, diversity and tolerance values in driving innovation and entrepreneurship at the local and global levels. How diversity and tolerance can be used to promote these drivers at the local and global levels to foster an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship, and how this can lead to economic growth and prosperity; Identifying practical strategies for fostering an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship and provide participants with actionable insights that they can apply in their own organizations.


H.E. Louopou Lamah

Minister of Trade, Industry and SME, Guinea

Harnessing Diversity through Tolerance: The Role of Diversity & Heterogeneity in Firm’s Behavior & Industrial Development

The role of diversity in overcoming challenges and fostering industrial development, and how diversity can be harnessed in such context, to positively affect firms’ behaviour, and hence industrial development; The simulations suggest that economic growth is increased with greater variety, in the sense of the evolutionary process approaching the equilibrium faster and also, in the long run, moving faster from one equilibrium to a new, more advanced, equilibrium. This occurs due to higher variety caused by a more tolerant environment, and due to the higher probability of emergence of radical innovations.

H.E. Simplex Chithyola Banda

Minister of Trade and Industry - Malawi

Key Note Speech: The role of tolerance and coexistence for sustainable economic growth and prosperity

The UAE Model: Fostering Tolerance and Coexistence for Sustainable Economic Growth and Prosperity

Exploring how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has leveraged its commitment to tolerance and coexistence to promote economic growth and prosperity. The UAE has made significant strides in recent years in creating an environment that values diversity, promotes inclusivity, and encourages innovation. By doing so, it has been able to attract businesses, talent, and investment from around the world, positioning itself as a global hub for trade and commerce. The session will aim to showcase the UAE model as an example of how tolerance and coexistence can drive sustainable economic growth and prosperity, and how other countries might learn from the UAE's experience in this regard.

H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan

Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence – UAE

Key Note Speech


H.E. Darkhan Kydyrali

Minister of Information and Public Development – Republic of Kazakhastan

The World Governments an Incubator for Tolerance


H.E. Darkhan Kydyrali

Minister of Information and Public Development – Republic of Kazakhastan

H.E. Nalin Fernando

Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, Sri Lanka.

Signing Agreements Ceremony


H.E. Narek Mkrtchyan

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs - Armenia

H.E. Umbriel Temiraliev

Head of the National Investments Authority - Kyrgyz Republic

H.E. Louopou Lamah

Minister of Trade, Industry and SME, Guinea

H.E. Lorenzo Fanara

Ambassador of Italy in UAE

H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa

Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, & Member of the Council of Muslim Bahrain Kingdom Elders

H.E. Darkhan Kydyrali

Minister of Information and Public Development – Republic of Kazakhastan

Syed Qassim Naveed Qamar

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh, Investment Department & Public Private Partnership Project, Government of Sindh, Pakistan

Panel Discussion: Global Clubs for Tolerance in Educational Institutions

Promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence in the educational environment through systems and policies on the one hand, and through student activities on the other hand

Ken Wilson

Arlie Peters

Provost, New York University

Ms. Fatiah Tourey

American University of Sharjah, Executive Director of Inclusion and Equity

Prof. Silvia Serrano

Vice-Chancellor Sorbonne, Sorbonne University

Mr. Ilya Melnichuk

General Director of Synergy, Synergy University - Dubai

13:00 -13:05

Closing Remarks


13:45-14:45

Namibia Investment Destination Forum

Namibia's recent developments, including the significant discoveries in oil and gas both onshore, in the Kavango East region and offshore, in the Orange Basin have attracted the attention of the global energy community, making it a potential exploration hotspot.

In addition, great strides have been made in the renewable energy space with several large-scale projects currently in operation or under construction. As the demand for sustainable energy intensifies, Namibia is well-positioned to leverage her unparalleled capacity to produce green hydrogen and emerge as a key player in the African and global energy market. Furthermore, World-class solar and wind resources, vast open spaces and long coastline make Namibia the ideal destination for future green hydrogen development. These reasons enable Namibia to produce green hydrogen at highly competitive costs.

Namibia’s tourism landscape features impressive breathtaking landscapes, diverse culture and rich wildlife. From the sand dunes plunging down to the Atlantic Ocean at Sandwich Harbour, the second largest canyon in the world, Fish River Canyon to unforgettable stargazing experiences in the NamibRand Nature Reserve which is the first African location to obtain the DarkSky certification.

For the discerning investor, Namibia’s emerging MICE sector and boutique tourism destination offers lucrative investment opportunities.

Tourism and Hospitality has become tantamount with Namibia and offers investment opportunities in top luxury accommodation, large scale conferencing such as MICE facilities, cruise tourism and film tourism.

Agriculture is one of Namibia’s important sectors, around 70% of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. The country holds several investment opportunities across the entire value chain of both the livestock and horticulture industries. The country currently exports high value fruits to key markets such the UAE, UK and EU market.

Nangula Nelulu Uaandja

Chief Executive Officer of Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB)

15:00-16:00

Moscow Investment Destination Forum

Moscow’s economy is one of the world’s largest urban economies and the largest one in Russia. The head offices of most of the leading Russian companies, as well as the representative offices of many major foreign organizations operating in Russia are located in Moscow.  

The capital tops the Russian investment attractiveness rating with investments growing from year to year. Despite the challenging global circumstances, investment volume increases due to Moscow’s anti-crisis measures, including such programs as subsidizing interest on loans for production expansion and preferential rates of land lease for large-scale investment projects.

Moscow is always open to sustainable, honest, and constructive cooperation. Comfortable business environment and support for business initiatives make the capital an attractive investment destination. For foreign investors, Moscow is a point of entry into the market of Russia and the CIS countries and access to export markets. Investors in Moscow can gain access to high-quality labor resources and scientific and educational potential. The high-level development of information and communication technologies, the large capacity margin of communal infrastructure, the positive dynamics of the transport infrastructure and public space development, as well as the high quality of the urban environment also make the capital attractive to foreign investors.

The city is among the world’s leaders in terms of innovative attractiveness and it tops the Innovation Infrastructure index. To date, there are 3 innovation clusters, 51 technoparks, and over 100 co-working spaces in the city.

Moscow is one of the leading cities in sustainable development. The Moscow Government has been realizing the strategy of socially-oriented lean economy for more than a decade now. Its main purpose is to use resources efficiently and increase the quality of city dwellers’ lives while preserving the optimal level of environmental impact. The city has been actively working to strengthen its position and implement the principles of ESG, its efforts have been marked by international experts. 

H.E. Sergey Cheremin

Minister of Moscow City Government Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow

Alexander Pinsky

Director for International Activities of Sitronics Group

Artemy Urodovskikh

VP of business development, Big Three LLC

Maria Bogomolova

CEO of Moscow Agency of Innovations

Dmitriy Markov

CEO of Vision Labs LLC

16:15-17:15

Republic of Armenia Investment Destination Forum

Armenia, situated in the South Caucasus, has emerged as an attractive destination for foreign investors due to its flourishing economy, simplified business procedures, skilled workforce, and an improving business environment. 

With a land area of 29.7 thousand square kilometers and a population of nearly 3 million, Armenia has historically served as a vital link between the East and West. Its unique geographical location has made it a crucial trade route connecting Europe and Asia, enabling easy access to different parts of the world.  

The Armenian government is taking considerable steps to improve the business climate and create favorable conditions for investments. From energy and infrastructure to technology, agriculture, food processing, tourism, and textiles, Armenia presents ample opportunities in a diverse range of sectors. Additionally, the government's open-door policy towards foreign investors and a comprehensive system of fiscal and financial incentives make investing in Armenia even more attractive. 

An essential aspect to consider when investing in Armenia is its access to large export markets with preferential conditions. Thanks to Armenia's diversified economic relations, its products can be exported to a consumer market of 1 billion people with 0% or reduced customs duties. 

In summary, with its robust economy, skilled workforce, and strategic location, Armenia offers a compelling opportunity for investors looking to expand their business horizons. 

Edik Harutyunyan

Enterprise Armenia

Senior Manager of Investment Promotion and Foreign Relations

10:00 - 11:00

Experience Elevation – Lesotho’s Investment Climate and Trade Investment Opportunities

Lesotho is found on the 29: 30 South latitude and 28: 30 east longitudes and the country is completely surrounded by South Africa. Lesotho has ten districts and her capital city is Maseru, She is 2, 261m above Sea level with a land area of 30, 355 KM  and easily accessible by air and road. She is close to Durban port for access to the port.  Lesotho uses the metric measuring system. Her weather pattens are characterized by cool to cold, dry winters and wet summers. She is divided into three ecological zone: Lowlands, Highlands, and Foothills.De Jure Population is 2, 0007,201 as of 2016 (Bureau of Statistics Census), The official Language are Sesotho and English. Lesotho is made up of 99.7% Basotho, 0.3% Europeans, Asians, and others. The country has 86.2% Literacy rate with a labour force of 1,233,229, of which 63.3% is made up of youth to labour (15-35years).

Advocate Molise Ramaili

LNDC

The Interim CEO

Puseletso Makhakhe

General Manager of Investment and Trade Promotion Lesotho National Development Corporation

Marina Bizabina

General Manager-Development Finance

11:15-12:15

Azerbaijan Investment Destination Forum

Azerbaijan is a country with a population of over 10 million located between the Caspian Sea and the Greater Caucasus Mountain range. The country has a high Human Development Index score of 0.75 and a steadily growing economy. With over USD 300 billion invested in the economy between 1995 and 2021, Azerbaijan has become an attractive destination for foreign investment flows, with overseas investments totaling USD 154.5 billion. The non-oil sector has seen significant development, with a total volume of non-oil investment reaching USD 63.9 billion during the same period, and non-oil FDI totaling USD 17 billion.

Azerbaijan's infrastructure is highly developed, boasting a vast network of 20,000 kilometers of roads and highways, 8 international airports, and various transport corridors that link Europe and Asia. Examples of well-established infrastructure in Azerbaijan include the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, the New Baku International Sea Trade Port, and AFEZ. Notably, Azerbaijan is a pivotal player in the East-West transport corridor, which connects China and Europe, acting as a critical hub in this route.

Bilateral investment treaties, as well as double taxation agreements signed between Azerbaijan and other influential countries provide a favorable investment environment for foreign investors and create legal certainty and predictability for investments.

The country's industrial parks offer excellent possibilities for cooperation, with residents exempted from various taxes and duties for a period of 10 years. As of June 2022, 116 business entities were granted residency status in industrial parks, with 65 already operating. The total production of the industrial parks amounted to USD 2.9 billion in 2022, with export figures reaching USD 1.1 billion in the same year, creating 10,325 new job opportunities.

The recent liberation of internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan has also boosted the country's investment potential, with vast renewable energy capacity in the Karabakh region and tax exemptions for residents of these territories.

Orkhan Mammadov

Chairman of the Management Board, Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Yusif Abdullayev

Head of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan – AZPROMO

Huseyn Aliyev

Legal Manager at the Alat Free Economic

Samra Guliyeva

Senior Destination Development Manager at Azerbaijan Tourism Board

12:30 – 13:30

Democratic Republic of Congo Investment Destination Forum

With a surface area of 2,345,410 km2, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a continent-sized territory, the second largest country in Africa. French is the Official language with 4 National languages: Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba and Swahili. The national currency is the Congolese Franc (CDF), other currencies like the US dollars, the Euro are freely traded. 

Strategically located in the center of the African continent, DRC is well known for having a large dynamic domestic market of more than 100 million inhabitants, being also a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC). The country has successfully established itself as one of the go-to investment hubs in Africa. The DRC benefits from natural mineral resources (such as diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, lithium and uranium), driving a mining sector that has historically attracted the country’s highest levels of FDI. Agriculture, Energy, infrastructures and industry are also important sectors for the country. As a future-oriented market, it is a beacon for foreign investors. From 2006, the DRC saw a steady rise in inward investment, mostly in the mining sector.

DRC’s unique tourist opportunities including wildlife reserves, indigenous cultures, and geological wonders establishes the DRC as a perfect country for those who seek to connect to nature and mankind. With almost 12% of the territory established as protected areas, DRC offers a wide range of tourist attractions in different provinces ranging from the seaside to the safaris and cultural structures. DRC caters to the business as well as leisure. 

 The DRC Government are pushing for Digital Transformation of the Public Sector through different initiatives and programs which creates various opportunities for potential investors in the Telecommunication sector as well as attracting Digital Solutions and Services Businesses to establish in DRC. 

H.E. Mr. Jean Lucien BUSA

Minister of Foreign Trade

H.E. Mrs. Marie Ndjeka Opombo

Ambassador of the DRC to the United Arab Emirates

Anthony Nkinzo

Managing Director of the National Investment Promotion Agency, Anapi

Guy BANDU

Governor of Central Kongo Province

14:00 – 15:00

Cambodia Investment Destination Forum

Cambodia's economy has grown steadily over the past decades, with an average annual growth rate of over 7% since 1998. Politically stable, the economy is fully dollarized with USD usage prevalent in daily local transactions. Further, the Government has been implementing policies favorable towards foreign investment. Foreign investors are allowed 100% ownership of assets and equity via Trust structures and tax rates are relatively low compared to other countries in the region.  

Geographically, it shares borders with Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, a region populated by over 200 million people. Demographically, over 60% of Cambodia's population is under the age of 30, providing a young and dynamic workforce with the potential of developing into middle income consumers.   

The Government has focused on infrastructure, improving roads and upgrading airports, making it easier for tourists to travel the country. As such, Cambodia tourism has grown steadily over the past decade, with a focus on cultural and historical attractions such as Angkor Wat and other focal temples. Before Covid, Cambodia welcomed over 6.6 million tourists in 2019, a 6.6% increase from 2018. Further, the development of luxury hotels and resorts has proliferated - particularly in the coastal areas of Koh Rong and Sihanoukville.  

Adjacent to Sihanoukville is the specialized Bay of Lights. A future world‐class financial center and tourism destination, the 934-hectare coastal township is located approximately 235km southwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. With unique competitive advantages, the zone potentially will catalyse a change that may spread across the entire countryscape. 

John Yip

Head of Investment, Real Estate Division at Canopy Sands Development & Belt Road Capital Management

Tom O’Sullivan

CEO of Realestate.com.kh

15:15 – 16:15

Jordan Investment Destination Forum

The Ministry of Investment (MOIN) is at the forefront of serving current and prospect investors in Jordan to ensure a high ease of doing business and strong investor protection regulation. We, at the Ministry of Investment, are committed to being your strategic partner with solutions personalized to your needs at any stage of your business growth and or establishment. 

In Jordan, investors will find the optimal regional hub for their business. International investors will have the potential of serving over a billion customers thanks to the numerous free trade agreements that Jordan maintains with trade partners across the globe (including USA, EU, Canada, and Singapore). In addition to exponentially growing your market share, Jordan’s financial market is one of the most stable in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Jordan owes its success to its investment in human capital which is regionally renowned as a highly educated, skilled and innovative workforce that enriches your business with a value-driven performance culture. 

In furtherance of said direction, Jordan offers a comprehensive range of incentives and facilitations to potential investors, including an optimum climate for investments. The Jordanian Government has, across its successive terms, undertaken numerous serious measures to review and enhance the economic, financial, and legal framework governing the investment process in order to take advantage of the available opportunities to increase economic growth and promote economic development in the various governorates across the Kingdom. 

H.E Kholoud Saqqaf

Minister of Investment - Jordan

H.E Hussein Alsafadi

CEO Aqaba Development Corporation

Tariq Hijazi

General Manager of Jordanian Businessmen Association

Bilal Hammouri

Director of Investment Promotion at The Ministry of Investment (MoIN)

16:30 – 17:30

State of Kerala Investment Destination Forum


Suman Billa IAS

Principal Secretary, Industries & NORKA

10:00 - 11:00

China Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone (Langfang)

Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone was approved for establishment by the National Development and Reform Commission in August 2016. Located at the junction of Beijing Daxing District and Langfang City, Hebei Province, it is the only airport economic zone (including pilot free trade zone and comprehensive bonded zone) cross provincial administrative regions in China. The Airport Economic Zone is located in the golden triangle zone of Beijing, Tianjin and Xiong’an, 45 kilometers away from the central urban area of Beijing, 80 kilometers away from the central urban area of Tianjin and 55 kilometers away from Xiong’an New Area. The planned area is 150 square kilometers, 100 square kilometers of which are in Langfang area, including 52 square kilometers of aviation logistics zone and 48 square kilometers of science and technology innovation zone. As an important window of the dual-cycle pattern of services, the strategic positioning of Airport Economic Zone is "the International Innovation Exchange Center Function Bearing Area, the National Aviation S&T Innovation Leading Area, and the BJ-TJ-HB Collaborative Development Demonstration Zone".

Han Jinhu

Member of the CPC Working Committee of Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone (Langfang), Party Secretary and Chairman of Hebei Airport Group Co., Ltd.

11:15 – 12:15

Zimbabwe Investment Destination Forum

Zimbabwe is land linked country located in the heart of Southern Africa, at the very centre of the North-South Corridor, making the country’s railways, roads, power and telecommunications network an optimum location for regional logistics hubs, with access to markets in East and Southern Africa. With a young and literate population estimated at 16 million, the country covers a land area of 390 757 square kilometres and is favoured with tropical temperate weather, and some of the world’s rarest natural resources.=

Harare is the country’s capital city and one of 10 Provinces that make up the country, each boasting an amazing array of investment opportunities across all its economic sectors. With a rich natural resource base – which includes minerals such as gold, lithium, platinum and diamonds, the country is also home to 17 of the world’s rarest minerals, and offers investors access to extraction and beneficiation of high grade minerals in an enabling environment.  10% of the country’s land is highly fertile arable - agricultural land, which contributes to 11% of the country’s GDP and offers opportunity for crop production, horticultural production, livestock and dairy farming and agro-processing - backed by availability and access to water bodies with potential for large scale commercial irrigation processes. 

Zimbabwe is home to one of the world’s wonders in the Victoria Falls, and tourism is major sector, with a diverse range of tourist attractions which include the Big 5 animals in wildlife, World Heritage sites, and cultural heritage sites across the country. It also offers the high-end luxury travel experiences in some of the country’s 5-star safari resorts. The country’s current drive for beneficiation offers investors manufacturing opportunities in textile production, ICT and agro- processing. The country also offers opportunities to invest in generation of 2 000MW of renewable energy through solar and hydro-power generation.

30 000 hectares of land across the country have been spatially planned and are ready for infrastructure development in the New City, Victoria Falls – Batoka 7 Node Development, Kanyemba, Tokwe Mukosi Dam and in its Special Economic Zone urban land developments.

Dr. Mavis Sibanda

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce

Tafadzwa Chinamo

Chief Executive Officer of Zimbabwe Investment And Development Agency

Rungano Innocent Nyaude

Founding Chairman of Zimbabwe Business Council UAE

12:30 – 13:30

Poland Investment Destination Forum

Discover Poland's Untapped Potential - A Thriving Business Hub in the Heart of Europe, Boasting a Skilled Workforce, Favorable Business Climate, and Strategic Location for Global Expansion.

During this country session dedicated to Poland, you will have the opportunity to hear from experts and industry leaders about the business climate in Poland and the investment opportunities available in this country. You will also learn about the incentives and support measures that the Polish government has put in place to encourage foreign investment.

The session will be divided into 3 parts.

The first part “Poland: Gateway to Growth - Unlocking Opportunities for Investors” will be hosted by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

The second part "Uncovering the Investment Potential of Silesia: Opportunities and Advantages for Business Growth" will be hosted by the Marshal's Office of the Silesian Voivodship. Silesia Voivodeship is one of the most attractive regions in Poland for investment. Located in the south of the country, Silesia is a hub of economic activity and was ranked in the top ten in three categories of the prestigious Financial Times report.

The third part on “Forget Silicon Valley - Poland is Europe’s emerging tech epicenter” will be hosted by MK Business Link – the expert specialising in Poland - UAE bussines relations.

Małgorzata Panek-Kasińska

CEO & Founder at MK Business Link

Anna Sierakowska

Head of Growth Strategy at MK Business Link

Jacek Robert Moritz

CEO of Alta S.A. / Miasteczko Siewierz Jeziorna Sp. z o.o.

Maciej Białko

Head of the Middle East Office of Foreign Cooperation Department Upper Silesian Fund SA

14:00 – 15:00

Angola Investment Destination Forum

Angola is a country in southern Africa with a population of approximately 33 million people. It is a resource-rich nation, with diamonds, oil, and minerals forming a significant part of its economy.

In recent years, Angola has made significant progress in various sectors, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure. This progress has resulted in the country's classification as a middle-income nation by the World Bank. As a result, Angola has become an attractive destination for businesses looking to invest in the region.

The capital city, Luanda, is a major hub for international trade and commerce, while other cities such as Benguela, Huambo, and Lubango have growing economies and present potential investment opportunities.

Moreover, Angola's national parks and wildlife reserves, such as Quiçama National Park, offer potential opportunities for eco-tourism and sustainable business ventures.

While Angola has faced political instability and conflict in the past, the country has taken significant steps to overcome these challenges and build a stable environment for business growth. As a result, Angola presents an attractive investment destination for businesses looking to expand into southern Africa.

Bráulio Mohammed Sanda Martins

President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Angola-UAE

António Gervásio Manuel Zola

Head of Diamond Comercialization and Marketing of Sociedade Mineira de Catoca

14:30 - 16:30

Georgia Closed Round Table

Georgia is a highly attractive investment destination due to its favorable business climate, which is characterized by low taxes, low utility costs, a competitive labor force, and free trade access to markets with a population of 2.3 billion people. Additionally, Georgia offers additional incentives for companies, such as simplified business regulations, tax exemptions, and a streamlined registration process.

The aim of the upcoming roundtable is to provide attendees with insight into Georgia's investment climate and opportunities and encourage a dialogue about potential partnerships. The roundtable will be a business-focused event that will begin with a brief presentation and be followed by a Q&A session. The roundtable will be moderated by a char to ensure that the discussion stays on track and that everyone has a chance to contribute.

Overall, the roundtable will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to learn more about the investment potential of Georgia, as well as network with other like-minded business professionals. Whether you are already invested in Georgia or considering it as a future destination, this event will provide valuable information and resources to help you make informed decisions about your business.

Moderator:

Mr. Andreas Dressler, Managing Director, FDI Center


Welcome and Opening Remarks:

Mr. Mikheil Khidureli, Enterprise Georgia, CEO


Speakers:

Mr. Tornike Zirakishvili, Enterprise Georgia, Deputy CEO

Mrs. Nino Neparidze, International Projects ManagerModerator:

Mr. Andreas Dressler, Managing Director, FDI Center

Welcome and Opening Remarks:

Mr. Mikheil Khidureli, Enterprise Georgia, CEO

Speakers:

Mr. Tornike Zirakishvili, Enterprise Georgia, Deputy CEO

Mrs. Nino Neparidze, International Projects Manager

09:00 – 10:30

Attracting Institutional Investment: Why and How to Do It - WAIPA

As the government entities charged with attracting FDI, investment promotion agencies are increasingly being expected to widen their remits and engage institutional investors to drive investment in infrastructure and other public schemes and to help support development goals. These investors have a major role to play in achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and can be productive partners in public-private collaborations.

But attracting and facilitating institutional capital requires a different approach from what is traditionally used for corporate greenfield FDI. In this masterclass from WAIPA and Fingar Direct Investment, attendees will learn why institutional capital is an essential aspect of the future of FDI, how it can be channeled most productively, and what financial investors need from IPAs.

Workshop Leader:

Courtney Fingar, Senior Advisor, Europe, and Communications, WAIPA

Abstract:

Foreign direct investment is in a period of evolution and investment promotion is evolving with it.

Courtney Fingar

WAIPA

Senior Advisor, Europe, and Communications

14:00 - 15:00

African IPA Dialogue

With a population of 1.3 billion and a GDP of close to $3 trillion, the African region has been making headlines for the massive investment potential it offers. The continent reported record FDI inflows in 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic weighing heavily on investment flows in the region in the previous year. However, Africa still accounts for only 5.2% of global FDI. The role of the African IPAs has now become even more crucial in reframing investor engagement with this continent.

Structured in an interactive, round-robin format, this one-hour intriguing session organized by KPMG and WAIPA would encourage African IPAs would be encouraged to candidly share their experiences and perspectives centered around the following contours:

  • Leveraging ‘Digital’ – Ways in which technology is being embedded in IPA operations [IPA are requested to share innovation around digital medium]
  • Fighting the battle of risk perception – New ways of brand promotion, communication & outreach in the region [moving away from traditional medium of heavy brochures, films, websites and how IPA are thinking the next gen technology mediums]
  • Sustainable industrialization and economic diversification – Drawing investments in Focus Sectors [ IPAs are invited to their share their approach for attracting green, healthy and sustainable FDI
  • Developing common denominator – the basic services which can be standardised and offered to IPA to meet their capacity constraint. [ Action oriented suggestions]

The session would not only help in drawing insights on the trends and patterns in functioning of African IPAs, but also demystify best practices which, in-turn would aid in cross-pollination of learnings and create pathways for institutional strengthening of IPAs in the region and draw specific learnings from the same.

Workshop Leader:

  1. Mohit Bhasin, Partner & Global Co-lead, Economic Growth, KPMG
  2. Dushyant Thakor, Deputy Executive Director, WAIPA

Mohit Bhasin

KPMG

Partner, Global Co-Lead of Economic Growth Practice

14:00 – 16:00

WAIPA Steering Committee - Closed Meeting


10:00 - 18:00

UNIDO ITPO Offices Heads Meeting - Closed Meeting


11:00 – 13:00

Arab Ministerial Meeting - Closed Event


10:00 – 13:00

Invest in DRC: Unlock Opportunities in the Provinces


Aly Ramji

General Partner at Humanity International Investments

Anthony Nkinzo

Managing Director of the National Investment Promotion Agency, Anapi

Jean Claude Mabenze

Gouverneur Sub-Ubangi

Désiré Nzinga

H.E. Mr. Jean Lucien BUSA

Minister of Foreign Trade

Guy BANDU

Governor of Central Kongo Province

Jean Robert Nzanza Bombiti

H.E. Mrs. Marie Ndjeka Opombo

Ambassador of the DRC to the United Arab Emirates

Malo Mobutu

Rashed Al Teneiji

Director of Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Economy - UAE

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