Abu Dhabi will host the eighth World Investment Forum of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in October as the UAE capital continues to attract global business activity. According to UNCTAD officials, the forum will be held from October 16 to 20 with the theme of investing in sustainable development.

The event will bring together CEOs and investment stakeholders from global companies to address key challenges arising from several crises, including the need to invest in food security, energy, health, supply chain resilience, infrastructure and manufacturing in LDCs industry, the UN agency said.

The World Investment Forum aims to bring them together to make a positive contribution to solving today's most pressing issues, including through climate finance and investment, said UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebecca Greenspan.

The UAE's strong push for energy transition — including becoming the first country in the region to develop nuclear power and set a net-zero emissions target — makes it uniquely positioned to host a sustainability-themed event. The country will also host the 13-day Cop28 in Dubai Expo City in November. The five-day UNCTAD forum will take place just weeks before the country hosts its annual climate summit, Cop28.

Unctad said the forum will help policymakers and other stakeholders find solutions and reach consensus on priority issues, the outcome of which will feed into the Cop28 negotiations.

At a time when much of the world is struggling with contracting markets and a post-Covid recovery that has yet to fully take root, UNCTAD's eighth World Investment Forum is an important opportunity to take a long-term view, says UK Trade State Said Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade.

Global challenges encompassing systemic issues such as climate change, inequality and food security, as well as the impact of the pandemic on trade, investment and supply chain resilience, require unprecedented unity of purpose and action, he said.

It is fitting that the event is being held in the UAE, where we are constantly reshaping and reshaping our economy to anticipate future changes, said Dr Al Zeyoudi.Editor/XingWentao