Doha, October 26 (QNA) - UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, Nayef Al Fayez said the focus on the cultural sector at the World Investment Forum 2026, hosted by Doha, represents a pioneering initiative and a starting point in its own right.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the ninth edition of the World Investment Forum 2026, Al Fayez said the forum is taking place at a highly significant time, as concerted efforts are being made to focus on the cultural sector, which is of considerable importance.

He added that culture had not received significant attention at previous editions of the forum, making this new direction particularly important, especially given the participation of numerous international and regional organizations, institutions, private-sector representatives and official entities.

He noted that the forum's focus on culture provides a platform to explore opportunities for building genuine partnerships to empower the sector and further promote culture as an investment objective and a pillar of sustainability within local communities.

Al Fayez stressed that the forum offers an opportunity for effective engagement among various stakeholders and highlights the need to support the cultural sector by bringing together the private sector, local communities and investors.

As official entities and international organizations, he added, foremost among them is UNESCO which plays this role in bridging the gap between investors and economic opportunities in culture, not only in the region but worldwide. (QNA)