For immediate release
Sharjah, October 22, 2025
Ceremony held on opening day of World Investment Conference 2025 highlights
best practices in investment promotion and honors previous WAIPA presidents
The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) celebrated outstanding achievements in global investment promotion during a glittering Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on the opening evening of the 29th World Investment Conference (WIC), held at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP).
The event, hosted in collaboration with Invest in Sharjah, brought together high-level policymakers, investors, and representatives of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) from around the world. The evening featured traditional cultural performances and remarks from distinguished speakers, including H.E. Mohamed Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, and Mr. Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director and CEO of WAIPA.
The ceremony also marked the honoring of former WAIPA Presidents, Mr. Fahad Al Gergawi (2019–2021) and Mr. Deepak Bagla (2021–2023), for their leadership and contributions to WAIPA’s global mission.
A key highlight of the evening was the launch of WAIPA’s Compendium of Best Practices, capturing successful case studies from the 2024 Investment Excellence Awards and unveiled by H.E. Mohamed Al Musharrkh, Mr. Ismail Ersahin, Mr. James Zhan, and Mr. Mohamed Yousef Mulla Yaqoub, President of WAIPA and Assistant Director General for Business Development Affairs at KDIPA.
2025 Award Winners
The WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards 2025 recognized exemplary performance in investment promotion, facilitation, and sustainable impact. Winners were selected by an independent jury of global experts.
- Special LDC Awards — Uganda Investment Authority, ANAPI (DR Congo), and Tanzania Investment & SEZ Authority
- AI Trailblazer Award — Invest Korea
- Innovative Investment Promotion Campaign — Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board
- Excellence in Investment Facilitation — Invest India
- Sustainability Impact — ApexBrasil
- Excellence in Aftercare — Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
- Voice of Investors — Invest Minas (Brazil)
- Outstanding Dedication & Excellence in Hosting WIC 2025 — Invest in Sharjah
“These awards showcase the innovation, commitment, and collaboration driving global investment promotion,” said Ismail Ersahin. “We warmly congratulate all our winners and recognize the new energy that their achievements bring to sustainable development through FDI.”
“It is a privilege to witness the growing sophistication of IPAs worldwide,” said Mohamed Yousef Mulla Yaqoub, President of WAIPA. “Each of the winners exemplifies how strategic investment promotion can accelerate development, create jobs, and support a more sustainable global economy.”
The evening concluded with a networking dinner accompanied by live performances showcasing Sharjah’s cultural heritage, providing delegates a warm welcome to the UAE.
About World Investment Conference
Since its inception in 1995, WIC has been the flagship event of WAIPA, serving as a premier platform for dialogue on global investment trends. It brings together decision-makers, senior government officials, and international investors from around the world countries to examine key economic developments that affect FDI flows and explore new avenues for global cooperation and economic integration. The agenda includes high-level plenary sessions, ministerial roundtables, ambassador-investor discussions, and networking activities that foster collaboration between the public and private sectors.
About WAIPA
With 130+ member IPAs representing over 110 nations, WAIPA serves as the primary agency promoting investment promotion and facilitation. By encouraging FDI and highlighting the role of its members, WAIPA continues to drive global economic growth and development.
For more information, please contact: Courtney Fingar, Senior Adviser – Communications, WAIPA [email protected]
