Executive Round Table on Navigating a New Investment Era: The Role of Investment Promotion Agencies and Special Economic Zones

Global investment is being reshaped by geopolitical tensions, supply-chain restructuring, technological change and the green transition. For investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and special economic zones (SEZs), competing for investment increasingly requires more than costs, incentives and market access. Investors are looking for resilient supply chains, skilled talent, reliable infrastructure, regulatory predictability, innovation ecosystems and strong local capabilities. This executive roundtable will examine how IPAs and SEZs can adapt to this new investment era, identify opportunities in emerging sectors such as AI, digital infrastructure, clean energy and advanced manufacturing, and build stronger investment ecosystems. The session will also explore how investment promotion frameworks and networks can become more proactive, targeted, and resilient in response to changing geopolitical, technological, and sustainability imperatives.