Latest updates

News & insights.

Press releases, publications and official announcements from UNCTAD, the State of Qatar and the WIF 2026 secretariat.

Update
4 August 2026

Today’s investment patterns are shaping tomorrow’s trade map

Where investment goes today will shape who produces, supplies, innovates and trades tomorrow. Across the world, companies are directing growing shares of capital towards AI infrastructure, semiconductors, critical minerals and clean technologies. These are not only attracting investment—they are shaping the productive capacity, supplier networks and digital infrastructure behind future trade, while also influencing the comparative advantages that will determine future export resilience, competitiveness and, ultimately, trade flows.

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Update
21 January 2026

World Investment Forum 2026 in Qatar to take place from 25-27 October 2026

The State of Qatar and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) today announced that the 9th World Investment Forum (WIF) will be held in Doha, Qatar, from 25 to 27 October 2026.The announcement was made jointly by H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar and UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, on the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.WIF is the world’s leading platform for investment and development, convening stakeholders from more than 160 countries, including heads of state, ministers, CEOs, business leaders, sovereign wealth fund executives and representatives of international organizations.Investing in the futureUnder the theme ‘Investing in the Future’, WIF 2026 will examine how investment and finance systems must evolve in response to geopolitical fragmentation, climate urgency and rapid technological change. The Forum will look beyond short-term capital flows to focus on long-term value creation, productive capacity, and economic resilience.WIF 2026 will advance key global initiatives, by linking high-level policy dialogue to concrete action.“At a time of growing fragmentation and uncertainty, investment must once again become a driver of shared prosperity,” said UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. “WIF 2026 will focus on how to align capital with long-term development, resilience, and opportunity.“We are proud to announce Qatar as the host of the World Investment Forum 2026. We intend for Doha to be a place of action, where public and private actors come together to shape the future of investment. We stand ready to partner with UNCTAD on this journey.” said H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar.A platform for action“At World Investment Forum, public and private leaders work together to turn long-term vision into investment action” said Nan Li Collins, Director of Investment and Enterprise at UNCTAD and Head of the World Investment Forum.The Forum’s programme will include the Global Leaders Investment Summit, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Global Dialogue, the Investment and Enterprise Ministerial Roundtable, and sessions on climate finance, digital transformation, and inclusive growth.Further details on the programme, participation and registration will be announced in due course and shared via the World Investment Forum website.UN Trade and Development and the State of Qatar look forward to welcoming the global investment community to Doha in October 2026.View the WIF video here.About the World Investment ForumThe World Investment Forum is the United Nations’ leading platform for investment and development, organized biennially by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Since 2008, WIF has convened heads of state, ministers, CEOs, sovereign wealth fund executives, stock exchange leaders, and the international investment community to address pressing challenges in investment for sustainable development. Visit worldinvestmentforum.unctad.orgAbout UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)UN Trade and Development helps developing countries benefit from the global economy more fairly and effectively, providing research, analysis, technical assistance, and consensus-building support on trade, investment, finance, and technology. Visit unctad.orgPicture: H.E. Ambassador Hend Al Muftah, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Geneva; H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development, Nan Li Collins, Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise and Head of the World Investment Forum, UN Trade and Development.

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Update
23 October 2025

9th World Investment Forum set for 2026 in Qatar

The flagship UN platform will scale solutions and partnerships to power sustainable investment globally, ensuring finance fosters inclusive growth and shared prosperity.The 9th World Investment Forum will be hosted by Qatar in 2026, Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan announced on 22 October during the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) underway in Geneva, Switzerland.Held biennially by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the forum is the leading global platform for investment and development.The 2026 forum will tackle the world’s most pressing investment challenges at a critical moment of global uncertainty, climate pressure, digital transformation and economic fragmentation.The need for inclusive growth, resilient economies and climate-smart finance is greater than ever.“Investment is about trust – trust in the future, trust in partnership, trust in shared prosperity,” said Secretary-General Grynspan.“How can we forge multi-stakeholder coalitions that channel sustainable finance where it's needed most.”The 2026 forum will build on the deliberations of UNCTAD16, notably its Business Leaders Dialogue, and advance other key global initiatives such as the UN Summit of the Future.“The 9th World Investment Forum in Qatar will bring together influential voices from across government, business and finance to shape the future of sustainable investment,” notes Nan Li Collins, UNCTAD director of investment and enterprise, also serving as head of the World Investment Forum.Strong partnership for sustainable developmentLooking ahead to the forum, host country Qatar reaffirms its commitment to advancing multilateral dialogue and mobilizing investment for shared prosperity.“We view this not simply as a ceremonial role, but as a substantive commitment to ensuring that WIF 2026 is action-oriented, inclusive and catalytic,” said Ahmad Mohamed A.Y. Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar.“Let us seize this moment of global challenge as an opportunity, to rewire investment toward resilience, equity and shared prosperity. Qatar stands ready to host, catalyze and partner in this journey,” the minister added.Further details about the World Investment Forum 2026 will follow in the coming months, follow itsofficial websitefor updates.

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Update
22 October 2025

Nan Li Collins, Head of the World Investment Forum

The Secretariat of the World Investment Forum is the Division on Investment and Enterprise at UN Trade and Development. The Division is led by Director Nan Li-Collins and is the focal point within the United Nations systems for all issues related to investment and enterprise development. It conducts cutting-edge policy analysis, provides technical assistance and builds international consensus on investment and enterprise.

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