28th World Investment Conference
25-27 November 2024 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hosted since 1995, the WAIPA World Investment Conference (WIC) is a forum where IPAs convene to address current economic and social issues that may affect global investment flows and other strategic and policy considerations. The Conference includes formal panel presentations, ample networking opportunities and social events for the members. Past panelists include global and business leaders, along with other influencers like economists and members of academia. The topics of the panels are selected based on current events and trends.
28th World Investment Conference
Harnessing Digital Transformation and Sustainable Growth
Scaling Investment Opportunities
Aligned with our theme, the conference will provide a dynamic platform where investors and IPAs come together for meaningful discussions. These interactions will foster dialogues, cultivate business relationships, and explore opportunities, reinforcing the symbiotic relationship between investors and IPAs.
Why attend 28th WIC?
Investor-IPA Connect
Skills Enhancing Workshops
Region Focused Sessions
Sectoral Engagements
Cultural Exchange
WIC Past Speakers
James Zhan
Dr. James Zhan is senior director of investment and enterprise, and chief advisor to the Secretary-General, UNCTAD. He is also editor-in-chief of UN Transnational Corporations journal and World Investment Report.
He chairs the Governing Board of UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges, with 130 stock exchanges worldwide as partners. He initiated and co-chairs the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones, and the Family Business for Sustainable Development. He is the founding chair of the World Investment for Development Alliance. He is also chief strategic advisor for the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, and member of the Advisory Council for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
He has provided policy advice to numerous governments (including heads of states and ministers), parliaments and global summits (including G20). He led the formulation of a global framework for a new generation of investment policies used in over 130 countries and regional groupings. He also established and leads the World Investment Forum.
He has held several advisory positions in academic institutions, including Cambridge University, Columbia University, Cornell University and Oxford University, as well as professor and PhD supervisor. He was member of the Global Agenda Council of World Economic Forum. He has extensive publications on investment, trade and technology related economic and legal issues. He has been a resource person for several global mainstream media, including Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Economist.
Nivruti Rai
Ms Nivruti Rai joins Invest India after an illustrious 29 years at Intel as a global business and technology leader. She has been part of the leadership team in various industrial bodies and government committees, bringing a wealth of experience in working closely with industry associations, business leaders, and government leaders. Ms Rai brings her vast global business leadership experience and invaluable technological expertise across multiple industrial sectors, including semiconductors, electronics, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, and manufacturing, to Invest India.
She truly believes in the power of technology to transform lives and has been at the forefront of several key initiatives and interventions in the Indian ecosystem. She contributed significantly towards indigenous technology development, start-up ecosystem, electronics manufacturing ecosystem, and policy formulation, especially in critical and emerging technologies. Along with that, Ms Rai also initiated skilling & training programs, enabled rural connectivity initiatives, and set up Applied AI research centres in India, bringing together innovation, aspiration, and opportunities in the hinterlands of the country.
Ms Rai led Intel India as Country Head for the past seven years driving growth and investment in India. During her tenure at Intel, she worked on Microprocessors, Hard and Soft Intellectual Properties, Platform HW/SW, AI, and Sensor Hub engines. Most recently, she also led the worldwide automotive foundry business as Vice President of Intel Foundry Services, where she was building Autonomous Driving, Advanced Driver Assist Systems, Infotainment, Power delivery solution and Microcontroller Units on Intel Foundry process nodes for global automotive customers. At Intel India, she drove the establishment of a comprehensive framework for Cloud, Network, Edge computing, and Devices, also fostering research collaborations with the government and industry.
Ms Nivruti Rai is the recipient of the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar from the Hon’ble President of India for her remarkable contributions in the field of technology.
Santosh Kumar Sarangi
H.E. Manuella Santos
Ms. Manuella SANTOS became Togo’s Minister of Investment Promotion on September 08, 2023, following her appointment by the President of the Togolese Republic, His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBÉ. In her new role, she will be responsible for promoting the priority projects outlined in the government’s Roadmap Togo 2025.
Ms. Manuella SANTOS holds an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in International Finance from Long Island University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts.
She has over 15 years of experience in financial engineering and risk management, with a proven track record at Wall Street financial institutions including Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers.
After a stimulating North American experience, Ms. SANTOS is now committed to contributing to the growth of economic development on the continent. To this end, since 2016 she has founded and led the Togo-based firm Market Solutions Global Consulting (MSGC), which specializes in helping companies invest in local and regional markets as well as finding innovative financing solutions.
As Minister of Investment Promotion, Ms. SANTOS intends to use her knowledge and networks of the business world to accelerate and increase the volume of domestic and foreign private investment in a favorable environment, with a view toward consolidating national economic growth and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, a priority of the Togolese State
Ajay Mathur
Dr. Ajay Mathur is the Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The ISA is a treaty –based inter-governmental organization with 116 member countries, which aims to make solar energy the energy-of-choice in its member countries. Dr. Mathur has spearheaded the implementation of solar energy projects and capacity building projects in many developing countries, and of the publication of annual progress reports on solar technology, markets and investments. Recently, the ISA has embarked on the creation of a Solar Facility to mitigate the risks associated with solar investments in African Countries, and launched a programme to identify and strengthen solar startups in that continent.
Prior to joining ISA, Dr. Mathur was Director General of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and a member of the Prime Minister of India’s Council on Climate Change. He was co-chair of the global Energy Transitions Commission and the Clean Cooling Initiatives of the One Planet Summit. He earlier headed the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency and was responsible for its foundational programmes, which mainstreamed energy efficiency through initiatives such as the Star Labeling program for appliances, the Energy Conservation Building Code, and the Perform, Achieve & Trade program for energy-intensive industries. He was a leading climate change negotiator and was the Indian spokesperson at the Paris climate negotiations. He served as the interim Director of the Green Climate Fund during its foundational period.
Dr Mathur was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He was appointed a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Merite by the President of France in recognition of his outstanding commitment to preserving the environment and coping with energy- related challenges.
Dr Mathur received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the (then) University of Roorkee and a Master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois. He has also received the Distinguished Alumnus Awards from both his alma maters.
Eloisa Klementich
As President and CEO of Invest Atlanta, Dr. Eloisa Klementich is transforming economic development in the city of Atlanta through strategic initiatives to increase equity and prosperity for all Atlantans. She leads a nationally recognized economic development agency accredited by the International Economic Development Council and has shaped the Invest Atlanta organization around equity to ensure all Invest Atlanta programs focus on this fundamental outcome. Since being named CEO of Invest Atlanta in 2016, the agency has had many notable accomplishments under Eloisa’s leadership. She commissioned Atlanta’s first economic development strategy driven by economic mobility, fostered an internal culture at Invest Atlanta focused on equity, and led the integration of Atlanta’s workforce development agency and Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative programs into Invest Atlanta to create a more comprehensive economic development solution for the city.
Eloisa is a certified economic developer and notable economic development expert. She has spent the last two decades solving complex challenges at the city, state, and national levels. Before coming to Invest Atlanta, Eloisa served as special assistant for economic development at the U.S. Economic Development Administration in the Office of the Secretary. She served as California’s assistant deputy secretary for economic development and commerce and has held various roles with city governments, including a consultant for Mexico’s President Vicente Fox, working on best practices for addressing constituent issues and requests.
Eloisa holds a bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College, as well as master’s degrees in urban planning and Latin American affairs from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA from el Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey. She received her doctorate degree in public administration from the University of LaVerne and is currently an adjunct professor of business administration at the University of Maryland.
İsmail Erşahin
Ismail Ersahin is a 20-years expert in international relations, investment promotion, facilitation and business development. He has held various leadership positions for the private sector, Government of Turkey and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA).
His work spans across several countries and sectors. Following his duties in trade, textile and tourism, he worked for one of the largest automotive groups in the country and established several new export dealers in Europe and North Africa. His understanding of the entrepreneurial sector gave him great insight in his work with the area of investment promotion and facilitation.
He joined Invest in Turkey, Turkey’s investment agency, in 2008 as Project Director during the establishment phase of the Agency. He has been appointed as Ad-Interim Executive Director in 2014, Deputy Executive Director of WAIPA in 2015 and Executive Director & CEO in 2023 by WAIPA Steering Committee. He unveiled WAIPA’s new strategy in 2014 and established WAIPA’s representative office in Istanbul in 2015 and in India in 2022.
He has studied International Relations at Uludag University and International Business Administration at Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey and joined General Management Program at Open University of Catalonia, Barcelona. He speaks Turkish, English and French.
Gunther Beger
Mr. Gunther Beger is the Managing Director of the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation at UNIDO.
Until March 2022, he served as Executive Director for Germany at the World Bank Group. From 2013-2021, Mr. Beger served as Director General in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany. From 1991-2013, he held several leadership positions in the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. From 1995-2000 was Head of Division for Agriculture at the German Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Mr. Beger holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics.
Andreas Dressler
Andreas has been active in FDI for over 25 years. He works with governments to implement investment promotion strategies and attract new investment. He also assists companies in selecting the best locations for their operations and securing favorable conditions for their investments worldwide. Andreas’ areas of expertise include location analysis, site selection, investment incentives, location benchmarking and investment attraction and promotion.
Andreas started his career in 1996, joining KPMG’s International Trade & Investment Services group in Washington and later KPMG’s Business Incentives Group. In 2003, he moved to Frankfurt to build a location advisory group for KPMG in Europe while continuing to coordinate their global FDI advisory activities.
In 2009, Andreas founded Terrain, a consulting firm providing services to an international list of IPAs and companies from the automotive, food, chemicals and other industries to select locations for new facilities. Following the sale of Terrain to Conway Data Inc., Andreas ran the company as a stand-alone division until 2016.
In 2017, Andreas founded Location Decisions, a location consulting firm, and FDI Center, an advisory firm that assists governments worldwide with strategy, performance and capability building. He holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree and speaks English, German, Spanish, Italian and French.
Swapan Mehra
Mr. Swapan Mehra is an Environmental Finance, Climate Policy expert and has deep expertise in developing nature solutions for Carbon Neutrality with over sixteen years of experience in developing Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation projects. He is the founder and CEO of IORA Ecological Solutions, (IORA), one of India’s leading Environmental Advisory firms that enables Climate Action through integrated Nature-based Solutions. Swapan holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and a Master’s in Business Administration from IIFM Bhopal. He is a World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader (2020), a Donella Meadows Fellow at the Balaton Group, a LEAD India Fellow, and a FICCI Young Business Leader.
Under his leadership IORA has contributed towards the development of some of India’s pivotal policy documents, including the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), National REDD+ Strategy, NDC Goal 5 Roadmap, and the “devolution formula” for India’s 14th and 15th Finance Commissions. Swapan is a member of the Green Credit Program technical committee for the Government of India, WEF’s 1t.org India steering committee and the Expert Advisory Group of the Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative.