UNCTAD in cooperation with the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Islamic Development Bank organized a regional workshop for member countries of the D-8 organization on “International Investment Policy Reform for Sustainable Development”.
The event took place on 13 September 2019 in the D-8 Headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey and addressed officials dealing with investment (policymakers and negotiators) from D-8 member countries.
The workshop discussed the need for a holistic and inclusive reform of the international investment regime. Participants also shared their experiences on investor-State disputes (ISDS) arising from IIAs and their countries’ new approaches to IIAs (e.g. new treaties, new BIT models and new investment policy guidelines and principles). WAIPA Deputy Executive Director Ismail Ersahin was invited to speak on investment promotion and facilitation.
The workshop was based on UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development and UNCTAD’s Reform Package for the International Investment Regime and provided concrete outcomes. D-8 countries agreed on a number of actionable recommendations, including developing guiding principles on investment policies for D-8 countries in cooperation with UNCTAD; strengthening cooperation on IIA and ISDS reform, and holding annual capacity building workshops on IIAs. The ultimate objective is to ensure that the regulatory framework for investment is balanced, fair and conducive to the SDGs.