Welcome to WIC   

The 29th World Investment Conference (WIC2025) is the flagship event of WAIPA, held in partnership with the Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF), the Sharjah FDI Office, and the UAE Ministry of Investment. The event will take place from 22–24 October 2025 in Sharjah, UAE, bringing together government leaders, IPAs, CEOs, ministers, investors, and global institutions.


Marking WAIPA’s 30th anniversary, WIC2025–SIF will be a milestone moment for advancing sustainable investment and development. New features this year include a rise in investor participation and a high-level Ministerial Roundtable to align national strategies with global investment trends.


Under the theme “Transforming Our World: Investing for a Resilient and Sustainable Future,” the conference addresses today’s challenges—from climate change and geopolitical shifts to technology disruption and the realignment of global value chains. It will promote collaborative investment strategies and launch the Decade of Promoting Investment for Good.

The Executive Board of WIC

The Executive Board guide every aspect of the conference—from agenda-setting to launching global initiatives—ensuring that WIC reflects WAIPA’s mission of fostering sustainable investments and strengthening collaboration among IPAs, for more information view The Executive Board page.

Past WIC Speakers

Ministers

H.E Khalid AlFalih
H.E Khalid AlFalihMinister of Investment of Saudi Arabia
Roman Sklya
Roman SklyaFirst Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
H.E Eng.Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser
H.E Eng.Saleh bin Nasser Al-JasserMinster of Transportation and Logistic Services, Saudi Arabia
H.E Faisal F. Alibrahim
H.E Faisal F. AlibrahimMinister of Economy and Planning, Saudi Arabia
H.E Mr. Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef
H.E Mr. Bandar Ibrahim AlkhorayefMinister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia
H.E. Minister Hassan El Khatib
H.E. Minister Hassan El KhatibMinistry of Investment and Foreign Trade, Egypt
H.E. Mr. Daler Juma
H.E. Mr. Daler Juma Minister of Energy, Tajikistan
H.E. Mr. Ismael Nabe
H.E. Mr. Ismael NabeMinister of Planning and International Cooperation, Republic of Guinea
Honourable Mr. Henry Fernandez
Honourable Mr. Henry FernandezMinister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation, and Investment. Antigua and Barbuda
Right Honourable Dr Denzil L Douglas
Right Honourable Dr Denzil L DouglasSenior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry & Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Economic Development and Investment
H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif
H.E. Noor bint Ali AlkhulaifMinister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), Kingdom of Bahrain
H.E. Abdolnaser Hemmati
H.E. Abdolnaser HemmatiMinister of Economy and Financial Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran
H.E. Sameer Abdul Hafiz
H.E. Sameer Abdul HafizMinister of the Economy and Planning, Republic of Tunisia
H.E. Moustoifa Hassani Mohamed
H.E. Moustoifa Hassani MohamedMinister of Economy, Industry, Investments, in charge of Economic Integration, Union of the Comoros
Hon’ble Musadik Masood Malik
Hon’ble Musadik Masood MalikFederal Minister for Water Resources and Petroleum, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
H.E. Laziz Kudratov
H.E. Laziz KudratovMinister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Republic of Uzbekistan
H.E. Chipoka Mulenga
H.E. Chipoka MulengaMinister of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, Republic of Zambia
HH Prince Sultan Bin Khalid Al Saud
HH Prince Sultan Bin Khalid Al SaudCEO of Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF)
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim AlMubarak
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim AlMubarakAssistant Minister of Investment, Saudi Arabia
Eng. Ahmed M. Al Sharqi
Eng. Ahmed M. Al SharqiDeputy Minister of Labor Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Saudi Arabia
H. E. Mr. Kostas Fragkogiannis
H. E. Mr. Kostas FragkogiannisDeputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy&Openness, Hellenic Republic
Mr. Sevak Mikayelyan
Mr. Sevak MikayelyanDeputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia
H.E Samer Alkharashi
H.E Samer AlkharashiDirector of UN Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East
H. E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser
H. E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al JasserChairman, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group
H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej
H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz Al-DuailejPresident of the KSA General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
H.E. Mr, Zaher Al Qatarneh
H.E. Mr, Zaher Al QatarnehSecretary General, Ministry of Investment, Jordan
H.E. Dr. Sidi Ould TAH
H.E. Dr. Sidi Ould TAHPresident, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)
H.E Mr. Christophe Farnaud
H.E Mr. Christophe FarnaudEU Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Non-resident to Bahrain and Oman
Rt. Hon Alderman Alastair King DL
Rt. Hon Alderman Alastair King DLLord Mayor of London
Dr. Margarete Schramboeck
Dr. Margarete SchramboeckFormer Minister of Minister of Digital & Economic Affairs, Austria | Board Member Aramco
H.E. Safia Mohamed Ali Gadileh
H.E. Safia Mohamed Ali GadilehSecretary of State for Investments and Private Sector Development, Republic of Djibouti
H.E. Renat Bekturov, CFA
H.E. Renat Bekturov, CFAGovernor of the Astana International Financial Center, Republic of Kazakhstan
H.E. Salim Mvurya
H.E. Salim MvuryaCabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry, Republic of Kenya
H.E. Sulton Rahimzoda
H.E. Sulton RahimzodaChairman, State Committee on Investments and State Property Management, Republic of Tajikistan
Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa
Dr. Abdulhamid AlkhalifaPresident, OPEC Fund
Dr. Haider Muhammad Makiya
Dr. Haider Muhammad MakiyaChairman, National Investment Commission Iraq, Republic of Iraq
Bakary Bathily
Bakary BathilyCEO, APIX Senegal, Republic of Senegal

International Organizations 

Ms. Nivruti Rai
Ms. Nivruti RaiPresident, WAIPA MD & CEO, Invest India
Mr. Ismail Ersahin
Mr. Ismail ErsahinExecutive Director & CEO, WAIPA
Dr. James Zhan
Dr. James ZhanChair, Executive Board of World Investment Conference, WAIPA
Lars-Hendrik Röller
Lars-Hendrik Röller Founder and Chair, Berlin Global Dialogue
Victor Chu
Victor Chu Chairman & CEO, First Eastern Investment Group
Mr. Baxter Roberts
Mr. Baxter RobertsSenior Counsellor to the Director for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, OECD
Dr. Stefan Kratzsch
Dr. Stefan KratzschHead, Sustainable Investments and Responsible Business Unit, UNIDO
Mr. Davide Cichero
Mr. Davide CicheroChief of Staff, ICC
Mr. Escipión J. OLIVEIRA-GÓMEZ
Mr. Escipión J. OLIVEIRA-GÓMEZDirector, Division of Enterprises Competitiveness and Institutions (DECI), International Trade Centre (ITC)
Ms. Nan Li Collins
Ms. Nan Li CollinsSenior Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UN Trade and Development and Chair, UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative
Ms. Githa Roelans
Ms. Githa RoelansHead of the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct Unit, ILO
Mr. Matthew Stephenson
Mr. Matthew StephensonHead of Investment and Services at the World Economic Forum
Dr. Trevor Gunn
Dr. Trevor GunnVice President, International Relations - Medtronic
Ms. Deemah Alyahya
Ms. Deemah AlyahyaSecretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
Mr. Hossam Heiba
Mr. Hossam HeibaPresident, General Authority for Investments of Egypt
Dr. Caroline King
Dr. Caroline KingFormer Global Head Business Development, Government Affairs, SAP
Mr. Gareth Hagan
Mr. Gareth HaganCEO, OCO Global
Dr. Asya Akhlaque
Dr. Asya AkhlaquePractice Manager, Global Investment Climate Unit in the Finance, Competitiveness, and Investment Global Department, Prosperity Vice Presidency - World Bank
Dr. Heather Taylor-Strauss
Dr. Heather Taylor-StraussHead of FDI Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Programmes, United Nations ESCAP
Dr. Samir Hamrouni
Dr. Samir HamrouniCEO, World Free Zones Organization
Mr. Nabil Khojah
Mr. Nabil KhojahSecretary General of the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA)
Khawaja Aftab Ahmed
Khawaja Aftab AhmedRegional Director, Middle East, Pakistan & Afghanistan., IFC
Mr. Yazeed Alnafjan
Mr. Yazeed AlnafjanDeputy Governor for Financial Innovation

Investment Promotion Agencies

Dr. Damie Sinanan
Dr. Damie SinananExecutive Director, Caribbean Export Development Agency
Ms. Sujatha U G
Ms. Sujatha U GVice President, Global Partnerships and Net Zero, Invest India
Mr. Sun Yao
Mr. Sun YaoDirector General of Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center
Ms. Natalia Bejan
Ms. Natalia BejanDirector General, Invest Moldova Agency
Mr. Mikheil Khidureli
Mr. Mikheil KhidureliCEO of Enterprise Georgia
Mr. R. Yofi Grant
Mr. R. Yofi GrantCEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
Ms. Biviana Riveiro Disla
Ms. Biviana Riveiro DislaExecutive Director, Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic
Ms. Kaye Anne Greenidge
Ms. Kaye Anne GreenidgeCEO, Invest Barbados
Mr. Achim Hartig
Mr. Achim HartigManaging Director of Germany Trade and Invest
Mr. Levon Ohanesyan
Mr. Levon OhanesyanCEO, Enterprise Armenia
Dr. Peter Ramsaroop
Dr. Peter RamsaroopGovernment of Guyana, CIO
Marios Tannousis
Marios TannousisCEO at Invest Cyprus
Mr. Mario Vargas
Mr. Mario VargasTrade and Investment Director of Peru to the UAE & GCC
Ms. Aïssata Lam
Ms. Aïssata LamDirector General of the Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania (APIM)
Mr. Tang Song
Mr. Tang SongDeputy Director, Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce of P. R. China (CIPA)

World Investment Conference Theme

Transforming Our World
Investing for a Resilient and Sustainable Future

WIC Program  


The dynamic conference format will feature a Grand Opening Ceremony, Ministerial Roundtable, WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards, Investors’ Forum, Strategic Leadership Dialogues, and signature events by key partners like UNCTAD, UNIDO, IEDC, ILO, ICC, OECD, World Bank Group, and UNWTO, as well as the WEF and WFZO and numerous others. It will also include plenary sessions, interactive workshops, thematic roundtables, and matchmaking forums. The Roundtable will be integrated into the main conference program and open to all participants, with ministers featured across additional sessions to enhance engagement. Visual storytelling through high-impact imagery—such as wide-angle photos from WIC28—will be used to convey the global scale and significance of the event.


Moreover, WIC2025 will introduce several thematic tracks, including the main conference track and the IPA capacity building track, covering topics such as sovereign wealth and pension funds, private equity, FDI in services, non-equity investment modes, agribusiness for food security, SEZs, and localizing FDI. These sessions aim to foster innovation and attract audiences from both the public and private sectors. WIC2025 will emphasize global inclusivity by curating multi-stakeholder panels with diverse speakers—including iconic leaders, policymakers, business executives, and investment experts.

WIC is the FDI platform for IPAs

For 28+ years and counting, World Investment Conference welcomes ministers, business and government leaders, general directors, CEOs, global institutions officials, FDI and economic professionals, from all around the world, where they build relationships, explore opportunities and possibilities for better economies and communities.

Have a look at 2024 WIC & 28+ years of WIC

Host