Structurally Weak and Vulnerable Economies (SWVE) Ministerial and Business Executive Roundtable

in partnership with UN-OHRLLS
Date
-
Event
Session Type
Conference
Interpretation
English / French / Spanish / Arabic / Russian / Chinese
Room number
Hall 4 Room 12
Contact Email
Paul.Wessendorp@un.org
Natalia.Guerra@un.org
19 October 2023
12:00 - 14:00 Abu Dhabi
Asia/Dubai

Structurally weak and vulnerable developing economies (SWVEs) include the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). LDCs as a group receive less than two per cent of global FDI flows, and less than 4 per cent of flows to developing countries, unchanged from the start of the century. LLDCs and SIDS – with few exceptions – receive similarly low levels of FDI. This is despite significant efforts made by many governments across SWVEs to strengthen their regulatory frameworks and to facilitate investment – often with support from development partners. More needs to be done to stimulate international investment, especially in SDG-relevant sectors and in support of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Organized in collaboration with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the high-level meeting of SWVE ministers and global business executives will seek to advance ideas to strengthen the investment climate of these economies and the role of the private sector in development. For LDCs in particular the meeting will be the first occasion after the adoption of the Doha Programme of Action to discuss implementation in the area of international investment.

Session themes:

  • What are the key challenges international investors face in SWVEs, and how can governments and the development community alleviate their effects?
  • What are the key investment opportunities in SWVEs – as a group and in individual cases – and how can public and private actors work in partnership to respond?
  • How can development partners help to maximize finance and investment in SDG-relevant sectors and for climate change mitigation and adaptation?

Speaker(s)

Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative, UN-OHRLLS
Minister of Investment Promotion, Republic of Togo
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Minister of Trade, Industry and SMEs, Republic of Guinea
Minister of Trade and Industry, Republic of Botswana
High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Minister of Energy and Transport, Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Minister of State, Ministry of Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Dominica
Acting Managing Director, UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries
Group Chief Executive Officer, SkyPower Group of Companies
Managing Partner and Founder, Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital
Assistant Director General, International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Moderator(s)

Founder, Fingar Direct Investment and Senior Advisor, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)