On September 19, WAIPA hosted its sixth and final Masterclass of the year, titled “Beyond Investment: Mastering Aftercare and Advocacy.” The event featured an insightful keynote address from Mr. Trevor Gunn, Vice President of Medtronic & member of WAIPA Business Advisory Board, and representatives from three WAIPA IPAs: Mr. Marios Tannousis (CEO, Invest Cyprus – CIPA), Mr. Sebastian Risso Clerc (Executive Director, Uruguay XXI), and Mr. dawit adugna (Agro-Processing Senior Expert, Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC)).
Mr. Trevor Gunn emphasized the critical role IPAs play in building strong relationships with investors and sharing best practices in aftercare, including the need for proactive engagement and consistent communication.
Mr. Marios Tannousis discussed the importance of aftercare at Invest Cyprus, highlighting initiatives such as the Cyprus International Investment Awards, which honor investors for their contributions to the country.
Mr. Sebastian Risso Clerc underlined the significance of aftercare at Uruguay XXI, noting that 40% of Uruguay’s Foreign Direct Investment comes from reinvestments. He elaborated on incentives such as subsidizing workforce training and providing a smart talent portal to help investors find skilled workers.
Mr. dawit adugna shared how EIC takes a proactive approach to enhance the investment climate, including regular process reviews, tax reforms, policy updates, and establishing digital platforms for investor communication.
Mr. Dushyant Thakor & Ms. Serena Clarisse Uy from WAIPA provided a briefing on the WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards. The awards honor IPAs and their investor partners that have excelled at Investment facilitation or have made substantial contributions to local development through strategic and innovative investment practices. Special awards will also be given to LDC IPAs.
We extend our gratitude to the speakers for sharing their expertise and to all participants for their engagement. We look forward to the next edition of our masterclass series in the coming year!