Event brings together global leaders in foreign direct investment;
Winners of WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards celebrated
Riyadh — Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and together with host Invest Saudi, the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) opened the 28th World Investment Conference (WIC) yesterday.
With an overarching theme of “Harnessing Digital Transformation and Sustainable Growth: Scaling Investment Opportunities”, Day 1 set the stage for high-impact discussions on digital transformation and sustainable development. The event is taking place November 25-27, 2024, in Riyadh.
Hosted since 1995, WIC is the flagship event of WAIPA, the main global body representing agencies which are charged with attracting inward investment to their jurisdictions. “The conference is an invaluable platform for shaping resilient investment frameworks that meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges,” said Ismail Ersahin, CEO and Executive Director of WAIPA.
Key Highlights from Day 1:
Opening Ceremony: Remarks from H.E. Khalid A. Al-Falih, Minister of Investment, emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a leading investment destination.
Panel on Global Market Navigation: Focused on attracting investments through cross-border partnerships.
High-Level Ministerial Roundtable: Explored strategies for aligning industrial policies with investment promotion to drive economic transformation.
WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards: In a sparkling al fresco gala dinner at At-Turaif in Diriyah, winners were celebrated for their impressive achievements.
The awards evening began with an address from H.E. Khalid A. Al-Falih.
H.E. Ibrahim Al Mubarak, Assistant Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia and CEO of the Saudi Investment Promotion Agency, joined in presenting the awards, alongside Ismail Ersahin and James Zhan, Chairman of the Executive Board of WIC.
The WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards recognize outstanding contributions in key areas of investment facilitation and promotion and sustainable development and were judged by leading experts from WAIPA’s Consultative Committee.
Award winners
Excellence in Usage of ICT for Investment Facilitation – recognizing outstanding use of innovative ICT tools to streamline investment facilitation and enhance efficiency.
Contribution to Sustainability & Local Linkages – honors projects that advance sustainability while creating strong local linkages and fostering community development.
Excellence in Investment Facilitation – celebratingexemplary efforts in simplifying and accelerating the investment process, driving impactful economic outcomes.
WAIPA also honored Invest Saudi for Outstanding Dedication and Excellence in Hosting the 28th WIC.
“We applaud the hard work and dedication to excellence shown by all our winners, and congratulate them on the successful initiates highlighted by the awards,” Mr Ersahin commented.
Jury members
About the World Investment Conference
The World Investment Conference (WIC) is the premier annual gathering for investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and global stakeholders. Since its inception in 1995, WIC has served as a critical platform for discussing trends and challenges in global investment flows, fostering international partnerships, and promoting sustainable economic development. The conference provides valuable networking opportunities, policy discussions, and workshops designed to empower IPAs and drive economic growth worldwide.
The conference continues November 26 with sessions on technology innovation, industrial transformation and sustainable partnerships.
About WAIPA
The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) is a global organization representing IPAs from more than 100 countries. Established in 1995 at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, WAIPA works to promote and facilitate foreign direct investment (FDI) as a key driver of sustainable development. The organization provides knowledge, training, and networking opportunities to its members, enabling them to attract and retain investment. In collaboration with partners such as ICC, IEDC, ILO, ITC, OECD, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNWTO and World Bank, WAIPA plays a pivotal role in shaping global investment policy and fostering economic prosperity through FDI.www.waipa.org
For more information, please contact: Courtney Fingar, Senior Adviser – Communications, WAIPA [email protected] (+44) 7506 586 986