Dubai, UAE - The 8th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting that took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 9-11, 2018, saw the highest number of global investors gather in one venue, numbering 20,332, including more than 1,000 investment specialists and advisors from 143 countries conclude 1,852 business-to-business and 821 government-to-business meetings in three days.

The high-profile event also was graced by the attendance of 87 ministers, state ministers, governors, heads of government delegations and senior government officials and private investors – making it the world’s largest gathering of important minds.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the inauguration of the three-day investment conference with a keynote address by H.E. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, Kim Hyun-Chong, Minister of Trade, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, South Korea, Sami Al Qamzi, Director-General of the Department of Economic Development, Dubai Government, and other senior UAE Federal Government and Dubai Government officials.

As many as 459 exhibitors – including country pavilions, international organisations, investment promotion agencies (IPAs), public and private organisations – occupied 8,000 square metres exhibition space across eight exhibition halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event attracted more than 100 IPAs and free zones, 43 sponsors and supporting partners, 64 media partners and eight knowledge partners.

India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Algeria, United Kingdom, Italy and Ukraine are amongst the top participating countries. AIM saw a number of IPAs winning AIM Investment Awards, while China held the China Global Investment Summit at the AIM.

The eventful three-day conference and exhibitions included country presentations, investment workshops on capacity building, training of investment officials in promoting their respective countries’ investment environment, investment match-making meetings, investors’ hub where officials of large corporations met with investors on exploring investment opportunities, in addition to main conference on investment-related issues.

AIM 2018 Investors’ Hub had participation from 20 local and international organizations. A total of more than 800+ meetings have been held at the Investors’ Hub. As many as 18 Countries/Investment destinations took part in the Country Presentation feature of AIM including UAE, China, Georgia, Italy, India, South Korea, Russia, Egypt, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Jordan, Botswana, Cameroon, and Nigeria.                                

The inaugural session of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) also saw the launch of the e-Platform for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), established by the UAE Ministry of Economy.

“Global economic growth is improving and short-term prospects look positive. The world economy is gathering speed with growth forecast for 2018-2019, according to the IMF, pegged at 3.9 per cent,” Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, told delegates at the event.

“The recovery in economy in a number of the Key sectors such as Investment, Manufacturing and trade had a significant impact on strengthening the fundamentals of Global Economic Growth. This recovery was more visible in emerging markets and developing economies, with average growth estimates for these markets at around 4.5 percent in 2018.

FDI in to the UAE recorded 7.29 percent growth to US$10.3 billion in 2017, up from $9.6 billion in 2016 and 21.17 percent up from US$8.5 billion FDI flow to UAE recorded in 2015, according to UAE Central Bank and the UAE Federal Competitiveness Council. However, this is at the backdrop of a 16 percent decline in global FDI flow of US$1.52 trillion in 2016, according to the United Nations Council on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The three-day Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), a large congregation of high-profile officials that include 25 federal ministers, 19 mayors, heads of international organisations, one head of parliament and investors saw the signing of a number of agreements and announcements that will help countries boost the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Al Mansoori said, the Annual Investment Meeting became a regional and international landmark for Foreign Direct Investment and exchange of knowledge and best practices between emerging and developed markets, where it gains tremendous and continuous support from the leaders, decision makers and officials worldwide.

“We live in an increasingly interdependent world. The pace of technological change is staggering, and Foreign Investment indeed plays a key role in harnessing this interdependence in a way that enhances our access to technology, the ingredients of innovation and to enhance prospects for meeting sustainable development goals (SDGs),” he added.

World merchandise exports, valued at US$15.46 trillion in 2016, is expected to grow this year as the global economy likely to record 3.9 percent growth in 2018, Yonov Frederick Agah, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), said at the opening ceremony.

“Economic data and forecasts from the IMF, OECD, World Bank and others have been revised steadily upwards over the last year, which would tend to indicate a sustained recovery of trade in 2018 following strong trade growth in 2017,” Agah said.

“The IMF's latest projections were issued in the World Economic Outlook Update in January, which had a forecast of 3.9 percent for world real GDP growth in 2018. This would be the strongest performance since 2011, reflecting increased global growth momentum and the expected impact of US tax policy changes.”

The prestigious line-up of ministers participating at the event include Kim Hyun Chong, Minister of Trade, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, South Korea, Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Oman, Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry, India, Mccullen Ntsikelelo Jack, Provincial Minister (MEC) for Finance – Economic Development and Tourism, Northern Cape Provincial Government, South Africa, Hassan Come, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Central African Republic, are among other chief guests and speakers for the AIM 2018.

Governors and Mayors from Nigeria, Ukraine, Mayor of the Municipality of Timisoara, Romania, Governor of Kano State, Nigeria, Governor of the Perm region of Russian Federation, Mayor of Ajdovscina, Slovenia, Metropolitan Chief Executive of Republic of Ghana, Governor of Kilifi County Government, Kenya and many other governors and mayors from Ecuador and other countries are going to attend AIM 2018.

Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO of AIM Organizing Committee, said, “The increase in the number of dignitaries, participants and investor footfall reflects a resounding endorsement of the three-day event and makes it one of the largest such gatherings in the global investment map. We are grateful to the tremendous support given to us by all the stakeholders, governments and private sector institutions that helped us put such a huge global event together.

“However, the biggest success of the event comes from the investment promotions and the 1,852 business-to-business and 821 government-to-business meetings in three days that will have far-reaching impact when follow-up agreements are signed up to accelerate cross-border investment.”

Table

AIM 2018 – At a Glance

Participants / Attendees

20,332

Exhibitors

459

Participating Countries

143

High-level Officials

87

IPAs and Free zones

100+

Sponsors & Supporting Partners

43

Experts & FDI Specialists

1000+

Media Partners

64

Knowledge Partners

8

B2B Meetings

1,852

G2B Meetings

821

About Annual Investment Meeting (AIM)

Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) is the world’s leading platform for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), aimed at facilitating strategic networking and promoting investments. It is the largest gathering of the international investment community, policy makers, business leaders, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics and experts showcasing up-to-date information and strategies on attracting FDI. 

It convenes key decision-makers from around the world, bringing together businesses and countries willing to engage in sustainable partnerships with investors. It offers a variety of features aimed at facilitating strategic networking and promoting investments while providing a worthwhile learning experience.

The ninth edition of the Annual Investment Meeting will take place from 8 to 10 April 2019, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. In a span of three days, an array of activities will be staged including a Conference, Exhibition, Capacity Building Workshops, Country Presentations, Investors’ Hub, Gala Dinner, Investment Awards, various G2G, G2B and B2B Networking Features, AIM Startup Innovation Showcase and Pitch Competition.

For further information, kindly contact:

Mariam Mikhail

Public & Media Relations Manager

Pan Asian Group

Cell      : +97156 2228535

E-mail: Mariam@PanAsian.Co

© Press Release 2018