Global Investment Promotion Conference - Session 2

Executive dialogue on investment facilitation and advocacy
Date
-
Event
Session Type
Conference
8 December 2020
15:00 - 19:00 Europe/Zurich
Europe/Zurich

The Global Investment Promotion Conference aimed to discuss the shape of the investment promotion and facilitation landscape beyond the pandemic with global leaders in a satellite event of UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum. For this event, UNCTAD in partnership with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), brought together state leaders, ministers, high-level executives from leading global companies, international finance institutions and private sector organizations.

Executive Dialogue on Investment Facilitation and Advocacy
IPAs and SEZs are working under unprecedented challenges in a highly uncertain global investment climate. Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, two important trends have emerged in their operations: (i) an increased focus on investment facilitation – particularly aftercare – and policy advocacy, and (ii) an acceleration in their digitalization.
Together with CEO’s from multinational enterprises, high-level executives from IPAs and SEZs will debate their predictions and expectations and what IPAs and SEZs need to do to remain relevant.

Segment 1 on Sustainability (click to see the video recording)

  • Given the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 crisis, is there still room for businesses to follow a robust sustainability agenda?
  • What could be the role of IPAs and SEZs in helping businesses to invest SDG-related projects and programmes?

Segment 2 on Digitalization (click to see the video recording)

  • Will the digitalization of investment promotion and facilitation continue post-COVID-19 and how will this affect the quality of services? Will further digitalization change the role of IPAs and SEZs?
  • How can the private sector support digitalization of IPAs and SEZs in the poorer countries?

Segment 3 on Partnership (click to see the video recording)

  • How have innovative partnerships, involving IPAs and SEZs, played a role in addressing challenges during the crisis?
  • How can IPAs and SEZs from least developed countries better benefit from existing international support programmes offered by development partners?

Speaker(s)

Minister of Investment, Department for International Trade, UK
Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta Group
President, Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies
Acting CEO, Atlantis Special Economic Zone, Cape Town, South Africa
CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission
Vice-President, UN Affairs, Microsoft Corporation
CEO, Invest India
CEO, Germany Trade & Invest
Executive Director, Free Trade Zone Association of the Americas
CEO, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies
Executive Director, Enhanced Integrated Framework, WTO
Secretary General, Africa Economic Zones Organization
Co-chair, Panel on Trade and Investment, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean

Moderator(s)

Chief Editor, fDi Intelligence, Financial Times