Investment by sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) is growing rapidly. With estimated total assets of nearly $4-5 trillion and the relatively high growth of emerging economies that own these funds, SWFs offer great potential to contribute to sustainable development through FDI. In this session, organized by UNCTAD in partnership with the Qatari Government, senior executives from leading SWFs, ministers, and eminent investment experts will explore best practices and appropriate policy measures, at the international and national levels, to maximize the impact of SWF-sponsored investment and actions that SWFs can take to promote sustainable investment.
The discussion will be informed by an UNCTAD paper on “Exploring the Potential of Sovereign Wealth Funds for Investment in Sustainable Development – A dialogue between SWF executives and ministers.”
Questions to be addressed include
- What role can SWFs play in promoting sustainable growth and development through long-term investment in productive sectors, agriculture and infrastructure development?
- How can governments create a more conducive environment to encourage sustainable investment by SWFs and to maximize the development benefits from their investment, while minimizing negative impacts?
- What potential is there for a global mechanism to facilitate SWF investment in sustainable development projects?
Speaker(s)
