The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2019, the ninth edition of the world’s biggest platform for foreign direct investment (FDI), opened today in Dubai under the theme ‘Mapping the Future of FDI: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization’. 

 

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and in the presence of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the AIM runs till April 10. 

 

The event also witnessed the presence of four presidents, one deputy president and 40 ministers including Evo Morales, President, Plurinational State of Bolivia; Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria; Rustam Minnikhanov, President of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of Chechen Republic, Russian Federation; and Huchiev Muslim, Deputy Chairman of Chechen Republic, Russian Federation.

 

More than 20,000 corporate leaders, policymakers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics, experts, and stakeholders from over 140 countries from Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, and Asia are participating in the three-day event. 

 

gatherings in the world. We are honored by the wide global participation in this year's edition, which includes delegations from more than 140 countries from around the world, who have gathered here to jointly explore the latest trends in foreign direct investment, as well as to exchange experiences and knowledge, explore business opportunities, and sign cooperation agreements and partnerships. As this edition of the meeting coincides with the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, this platform also presents us with another opportunity to emphasize the value of tolerance and its importance in promoting joint efforts that are essential for productive partnerships and development.”

 

He further stated that the outlook for the future remains optimistic, given the 3.7 per cent global economic growth experienced in 2018 and with the International Monetary Fund estimating that the world economy will continue to grow in 2019 by 3.5 per cent. 

 

“At the national level, the UAE continues to rank first in the region in terms of FDI inflows, which in 2018 amounted to $10.4 billion according to the Central Bank of UAE estimates. For the past six consecutive years, the UAE has been leading the Arab countries in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index.’ IMF maintains positive economic forecasts in this regard, as the country's GDP growth is estimated at 3.7 per cent this year,” added Dr Al Nuaimi.

 

“The UAE has paid great attention to the development of infrastructure and roads, being aware of its importance in promoting investments. The country has also been able to achieve internationally high rankings on global competitiveness indicators in this domain. These include second place in satisfaction with streets and highways, which constitute one of the best infrastructures in the world. Furthermore, the UAE has accomplished some prestigious achievements through successful partnerships between the public and private sectors in the area of infrastructure projects, reflecting the importance of joint endeavors by both sectors and attracting more investors,” stated Dr Al Nuaimi.

 

This edition of AIM also features AIM Startup and Future Cities Show. The AIM Startup has over 150 promising startup companies under one roof to help facilitate business interactions and investment partnerships with major investors, business leaders, representatives of international institutions, and government entities. The Future Cities Show, on the other hand, will focus on five leading future city solutions, namely AI, blockchain, smart infrastructure, smart mobility, and sustainability. According to Walid Farghal, the event unites leaders from various industries to interact, discuss, and showcase top-notch solutions for a smart sustainable future.

 

It has been noted that digital technologies particularly, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and other disruptive technology are all major and initiatives for FDIs. The UAE has the potential to increase 3.7 to 10.8 trillion mobile networks by 2025, where AI adoption will account for 45 percent of the total. 

 

“Policymakers worldwide are looking for ways to inject new energy to FDI flows given that international investments play a vital role in sustainable development of many states, especially for developing countries. Amidst these challenges, it is imperative that we continue our dialogues to come up with the best solutions. International leaders and decision makers from the government and private sectors are present in this year’s event to tackle these challenges as well as key opportunities that we can optimize,” said Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO of Annual Investment Organising Committee.

 

“In the UAE, which has embarked on intensive digital transformation efforts, FDIs play a visible role in the country’s economic diversification strategy and preparation for a post-oil future. The government has implemented key policies and programs to attract foreign investors according to UAE Vision 2021. These efforts have yielded positive results amidst growing confidence of the international community in the Arab nation,” he said.  – TradeArabia News Service