UNCTAD announces Abu Dhabi as the host city for its 8th World Investment Forum

The forum, with the theme ‘Investing in Sustainable Development’ will be held from October 16 to 20 this year.

It will bring together government leaders, global CEOs and other investment stakeholders to tackle the key challenges brought about by multiple global crises, including the need to invest in food security, energy, health, supply chain resilience, infrastructure and productive capacity growth in the least developed countries.

Significantly, the UNCTAD forum will take place a few weeks ahead of COP28, which will also be held in the UAE.

The global event is expected to enable policymakers and other stakeholders to find solutions and reach consensus on priority issues, and its outcomes will feed into COP28 negotiations.

UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum

“At a time when much of the world is struggling with contracting markets and a post-COVID recovery that has yet to fully take hold, UNCTAD’s 8^th World Investment Forum is an important opportunity to take a long-term perspective,” Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE minister of state for foreign trade, said.

He said the challenges the world faces, whether systemic issues such as climate change, inequality and food security or mitigating the pandemic’s impact on trade, investment and supply chain resilience, require unity of purpose and action on an unprecedented scale.

“It is fitting that the event takes place in the UAE, where we are continuously reinventing and remodelling our economy to anticipate future changes,” Dr. Al Zeyoudi said.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan emphasised the vital role the forum plays in mobilising efforts by the international investment-development community to address global challenges, which have both multiplied and converged in recent years.

“I see how investors, firms and governments are, in increasing numbers, putting sustainability and long-term value at the core of their activities,” she said.