Welcome to WIC 2025 Highlights
The 29th World Investment Conference (WIC 2025) officially opened in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, under the patronage of the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) and in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment, marking the beginning of two days of high-level dialogue on global investment, sustainability and innovation.
12000+
Participants
924.5 millions
Potential Investment
142+
Countries
250
B2B Meetings
160+
Sessions
130+
Speakers
120+
Business Meetings
211
Qualified Investment Meetings
104.5 m
MoUs, Contracts & Commitments
100%
Participant Satisfaction
#29thWIC Top Highlights
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony featured remarks from H.H. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); H.E. Abdullah Bin Touq, UAE Minister of Economy; and Dr. James Zhan, Chairman of the WIC Executive Board and WAIPA.
Addressing hundreds of delegates from more than 100 countries, H.H. Sheikha Bodour welcomed participants to the emirate, highlighting Sharjah’s growing role as a platform for sustainable and responsible investment. She emphasised that WIC 2025 “comes at a pivotal time for the global economy, when collaboration between nations, investors, and institutions is more essential than ever.”
Dynamic discussions and high-level panels
Throughout the day, delegates participated in a rich series of sessions addressing sustainability, resilience, digital transformation and innovation in investment promotion. Highlights included:
- Global Leaders’ Insights panel, featuring senior ministers and international experts discussing new strategies for investment facilitation in a shifting global economy.
- A fireside chat with entrepreneur Raj Shamani, exploring how digital creators and influencers are shaping modern investment trends.
- “Green is the New Gold”, a high-level discussion on sustainable investment as a source of competitive advantage, with speakers including H.E. Amna Al Dahhak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Prof. Raekwon Chung, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and climate policy expert.
- “Future-Proofing Economics” featuring senior economic leaders including H.E. Fahad Al Gergawi, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, and Mrs. Taliya Minullina, CEO, Tatarstan Investment Development Agency.
WIC Outcomes
Ministerial Roundtable
“Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Strategy in the New Era”
Attendees: 28 Ministers and Heads of International Organizations
Chair: H.E. Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Moderator: James Zhan, Chair, Executive Board of the World Investment Conference, WAIPA
Ambassadors-IPA Executive Dialoge
“Synergies between Diplomacy and Investment Promotion”
Attendees: 30 ambassadors, the Executives of IPAs and the CEO of WAIPA
Chair: H.E. Ibrahim Almubarak, Assistant Minister of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Moderator: James Zhan, Chair, Executive Board of World Investment Conference, WAIPA
Smart Investment, Sustainable Impact
Day Two sessions focused on how smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence and sustainable finance are redefining global competitiveness.
Panels such as “Transforming Industries Through Smart Manufacturing”, “The Impact of AI and Sustainability on Investment Decisions”, and “Reimagining Global Investment: Smart Policies for a Resilient Future” featured leaders from MoIAT, Siemens, Honeywell, AIIB, and UNIDO, alongside representatives from top IPAs.
Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony
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.
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
Press Releases
A milestone for WAIPA and Sharjah
The 2025 edition of WIC carries special significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of WAIPA, celebrating three decades of empowering investment promotion agencies and advancing sustainable global development.
“WIC has always been more than a conference — it’s a unique platform that connects the world’s leading minds in investment to share knowledge, innovation and vision,” said Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director and CEO of WAIPA. “This year’s opening day has reaffirmed our collective commitment to a future where investment serves people, planet, and prosperity.”
About World Investment Conference
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.
For more information check out our previous legacy of WICs here.