Investment meet in Dubai to focus on FDI flows

Foreign direct investment flow in emerging markets will take the centre-stage at the Annual Investment Meeting, or AIM 2012, taking place in Dubai from May 1 to May 3. More than 20 ministers and over 4000 business-focused delegates will attend the second edition of the event, hosted by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade. “Globalisation has broadened investment horizons and trade partnership for fast-developing economies,” said Shaikha Lubna ahead of the second edition of AIM which promises to invest in growth and bolster global partnerships. Participants at the event, a global emerging market-led conference and investment trade fair, are expected to share their perspectives on economic governance, trade cooperation and investment policies and will use this strategic gathering to present multi-billion dollars PPP projects to key institutional investors, organisers said. Delegates from more than 45 countries will come along with the official delegations to explore investment opportunities within key growth economies. Since its inception in 2011, AIM has garnered a strong international support and has become a world’s tribune for strategic discussions on FDI and realistic showcases or economic briefing for rapid growth economies competing for top ranking on the global stage. AIM thought leadership conference would open the debate on Eurozone crisis and worldwide budgetary austerity impact on FDI outflows. Overall discussions will include realistic forecasts on FDI movements and valuable information on the realities and challenges of the future FDI beneficiaries, organisers said at a Press conference on Wednesday. Organisers said AIM would offer a greater insight into the internal and external markets and investment dynamics in the most promising economies post 2008 downturn. According to organisers of AIM, growth has become synonymous with five major indicators, institutional stability, healthy investment climate, rapid infrastructure development, high internal consumer demand and global competitiveness leadership. “The most compelling economic growth stories in a world starved for growth are the incremental transformations experienced by countries like China, India, Poland, Russia, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa and the UAE to name a few,” they said. Ministers attending the event from 20 countries are expected to create a substantial if not collective value proposition for sustained growth, consolidated economic cooperation, extended trade agreements. “In figures, it means that billions of dollar worth of investments, memorandum of understanding will be signed during the event between countries presenting strong investable projects with high yields and investors who believe in long-term investment strategies,” AIM organisers said. A new addition to the event this year is the China-Arab Industrial and Leadership Forum, which is an initiative, designed to enhance China-GCC partnership plans. City of Beijing Deputy Mayor will join the forum along with Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Beijing, oil & gas giant Sinopec with the support of UAE-based Union National Bank and Kuwait Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation. The Dubai Department of Economic Development has given its support to the event as the host city partner. Dubai’s leading economic free zones authorities will share their know-how at the UAE Investment and Cooperation Forum at the event. Dubai International Financial Centre Governor Abdullah Mohammed Saleh and DIFC’s chief economist Dr Nasser Saidi will discuss the need to create a one-stop financial epicenter in Dubai.