His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has witnessed the opening of the 8th World Investment Forum, organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, from October 16th to 20th 2023.
The opening was attended by José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; Faure Gnassingbé, President of Togo; Akylbek Japarov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic; Manoa Seru Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications in the Republic of Fiji; His Excellency Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; and Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh.
His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted that hosting the Global Investment Forum in the UAE for the first time underscores the country’s significant role in enhancing the global economy by facilitating trade and investment, and creating a business-friendly environment. He added that it also reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to promoting innovation, adopting sustainability standards, and building strategic partnerships with invesment organisations around the world.
His Highness emphasised the role of the forum as a platform for addressing current challenges and devising strategies to ensure a sustainable future based on a common vision that fosters global development and progress. This is achieved through channelling investments into sustainable projects in key priority sectors, including renewable energy, healthcare, smart infrastructure development, and the advancement of cutting-edge technological solutions to solve developmental challenges, and to build a knowledge-based global economy.
His Highness met with a group of government officials, decision-makers, business leaders, investors, and representatives from local and international institutions and companies, with whom he discussed the latest developments in the global investment landscape. His Highness also highlighted a range of potential investment opportunities in the UAE, in addition to a number of initiatives that promote sustainable development, such as the Make it in the Emirates initiative.
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, highlighted the importance of hosting the World Investment Forum in the UAE for the first time, with representatives from 160 countries. The scale of participation reflects the level of confidence around the world in the UAE's ability to create a platform for positive dialogue aimed at advancing global economic cooperation.
He added that the aim of the event is to consolidate efforts towards creating more effective policies and strategies to tackle the challenges of bilateral investment, while ensuring the necessary capabilities to enhance global investment. This includes establishing new partnerships and strengthening existing ones to further advance economic development. This vision will inspire people around the world to achieve their economic goals, leading to greater prosperity and wellbeing for every community.
His Highness also pointed out the added value of the event in discovering new avenues for cooperation and reinforcing trust, along with consolidating efforts to create opportunities for all. This is particularly important for developing economies, as it provides more opportunities for equitable development, focusing on vital areas served by knowledge-based economies. He reaffirmed that the UAE has made significant progress in establishing the foundations of an innovative economy and has built a developmental model that has gained global recognition for its achievements, including enhancing its competitiveness in various global economic indicators.
His Highness toured the event exhibition alongside His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment; His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; and His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
The 8th edition of the forum, which is organised under the theme ‘Investing in Sustainable Development’, brings together more than 7,000 government officials, decision makers, business leaders and investors from 160 countries to discuss key issues including climate action, clean energy, health care and food security.
Organised with the support of the UAE Ministry of Economy and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the event highlights key apsects and programmes of the ‘Falcon Economy’, which is leading Abu Dhabi to the next stage of economic diversification, and promoting the transition to a smart and circular economy that drives sustainable development. In addition, the forum features discussion sessions and interactive workshops to showcase the Make in the Emirates initiative, which is advancing the UAE’s industrial sector in line with the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative.
