Istanbul, Türkiye — 31st March, 2026
The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) has formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Investors Association (YASED), establishing a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing international investment cooperation and advancing sustainable and inclusive foreign direct investment (FDI).
The MoU was signed on the occasion of the 45th Ordinary General Assembly Meeting of YASED, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing together key stakeholders from government, international organizations, and the global investment community.
The agreement was signed by Mr. İsmail Erşahin, Executive Director and CEO of WAIPA, and Mr. Serkan Valandova, Secretary General of YASED.
This partnership sets out a framework for collaboration across key priority areas, including foreign direct investment (FDI), global value chains (GVCs), green and digital economic transformation, and responsible business conduct (RBC). Through this cooperation, both organizations will engage in joint initiatives such as knowledge exchange, capacity-building programmes, analytical work, and the organization of high-level events and dialogues.
The signing ceremony took place within a high-level programme featuring remarks by H.E. Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of Türkiye and H.E. Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of Türkiye.
The programme also included a keynote address by James X. Zhan, Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Investment Conference/WAIPA and Associate Fellow of Chatham House, titled “An Emerging New Global Production System: Technology-led and Geopolitics-driven Tripolar.”
In his remarks, he underlined that “the decisions that will be made in 2026–2027 by firms and states will be pivotal” and noted Türkiye’s role as “a connective economy between the major regional production hubs.” Both signatories, YASED Secretary General Mr. Serkan Valandova and WAIPA Executive Director and CEO Mr. İsmail Erşahin, also addressed the audience, underlining the shared vision of both organizations in building investor confidence and strengthening dialogue to unlock new opportunities for cooperation.
Mr. Erşahin emphasized the importance of strengthened partnerships between investment promotion institutions and the private sector in navigating an increasingly complex global investment landscape. The collaboration with YASED reflects a shared commitment to fostering resilient investment ecosystems and supporting the flow of quality investment across regions.
This MoU represents a significant step in leveraging the complementary strengths of both organizations, facilitating closer engagement between WAIPA’s global network of Investment Promotion Agencies and YASED’s community of international investors.
