Doha, October 05 (QNA) - Doha is set to host the ninth edition of the World Investment Forum, organized in partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), from October 25 to 27 under the theme Investing in the Future.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced on Monday that the forum will bring together high-level participants, including ministers, senior government officials, CEOs, business leaders, investors, sovereign wealth fund officials, representatives of international organizations, investment bodies, financial and development institutions, and entrepreneurs from around the world.
The Ministry said its participation as an official partner of the forum is in line with its mandate to support economic diversification, enhance national economic competitiveness, improve the business and investment environment, and foster private sector growth. It also aims to attract high-quality investments and expand partnerships with the business community and international institutions, further strengthening Qatar's position as a regional and global hub for business and investment.
The Ministry noted that the forum will examine the impact of economic fragmentation and technological advances on capital flows and investment decisions, as well as ways to maximize the benefits of investment and strengthen its contribution to sustainable development and economic resilience.
The forum's program features more than 70 high-level sessions and dialogues involving 211 speakers across seven thematic tracks. The tracks address sectors and issues shaping the future of global investment, foremost among them artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, sustainable finance, tourism, and culture, as well as emerging investment opportunities, including the space economy.
The program also includes high-level plenary sessions, ministerial roundtables, and dialogues bringing together governments, investors, and business leaders. It will also feature the Global Dialogue on Sustainable Stock Exchanges, the World Investment Promotion Conference, and specialized sessions on investment policies, entrepreneurship, finance, and development.
A key highlight of the agenda is a high-level session on The Future of Investment in the Gulf Region, held in collaboration with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The session will bring together ministers and investment officials from GCC states to discuss promising investment opportunities, policies and initiatives to attract investment, prospects for strengthening Gulf economic integration, and the region's role in consolidating its position as a global investment hub.
The forum comes against the backdrop of the rapid impact of recent regional developments on global trade, particularly disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. These developments have affected energy flows and shipping operations, driven up transport and insurance costs, and increased pressure on supply chains and international markets, bringing the challenges of trade route security and the continuity of goods and energy supplies back to the forefront.
They also highlight the importance of diversifying supply routes and trade destinations and strengthening international coordination and cooperation to mitigate the spillover effects of regional disruptions on global trade and the economy, issues that are becoming increasingly significant amid growing challenges and risks facing the international economic landscape.
Doha's hosting of the ninth edition is particularly significant as the World Investment Forum returns to Qatar 14 years after the country hosted its third edition in 2012. That event was held concurrently with the 13th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), marking the first time the conference was held in an Arab country. (QNA)