Opening of the Academic Track
Research policy dialogue
Speaking
Mr. James X. Zhan
Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD and Lead, UNCTAD World Investment Forum · International Organizations and Civil Society
Sessions
World Economic Forum-UNCTAD joint breakfast event: Invest Tech (by invitation only)
Speaking
SSE Global Dialogue
Speaking
Investment Promotion Executive luncheon (by invitation only)
Speaking
International Investment Support Center for the LDCs
Speaking
World Economic Forum-UNCTAD joint breakfast event: Services and investment facilitation (by invitation only)
Speaking
The Youth Forum
Speaking
Family Business Conference (session I)
Family business contributions to the SDGs
Speaking
SDG Model Zones
Speaking
B-READY! Understanding the World Bank’s new business-readiness assessment
Speaking
High-level International Investment Agreements Conference 2023
Speaking
Investing in Vaccine Supply Chain Resilience and Local Production
Speaking
The Winning Formula
How Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) can achieve better results
Speaking
Promoting Climate Action Through Trade and Investment Policy
Speaking
Accelerating Green Investments in Tourism for Sustainable Development
Speaking
Meeting of the World Investment for Development Alliance (by invitation only)
Collaborating between investors and investment organisations
Speaking
Academic Track Closing
Speaking
Implications of Tax Reforms for IPAs and SEZs
Speaking
Financing the Climate Transition: The way forward
Speaking
High-level Closing Roundtable on Investing in Sustainable Development: The Way Forward
Moderating
Biography
Dr. James Zhan is senior director of investment and enterprise at UNCTAD. He also leads the World Investment Report and Transnational Corporations journal.
He chairs the Governing Board of UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges, with all stock exchanges worldwide as partners. He initiated and co-chairs the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones, and the Family Business for Sustainable Development initiative. He is the founding chair of the World Investment for Development Alliance. He is also chief strategist for the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, and member of the Advisory Council for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
He has provided policy advice to numerous governments (including heads of states and ministers), parliaments and global summits (including G20, BRICS, ACP, APEC). He led the formulation of a global framework for a new generation of investment policies used in over 130 countries and regional groupings. He has also been leading the World Investment Forum since its establishment in 2008.
He has held several advisory positions in academic institutions, including Cambridge University, Columbia University, Cornell University and Oxford University, as well as professor and PhD supervisor at Nankai University. He has extensive publications on investment, trade and technology related economic and legal issues. He has also directed over 300 UN publications and research projects. He has been a resource person for several global mainstream media, including Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Economist.