Dubai - MENA Herald: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the inaugural Dubai Investment Forum, organised by the Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), will be held at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel, Dubai, on the 12th of October 2015.
The Forum aims to provide investors with insights on existing as well as new and emerging investment opportunities across key growth sectors in Dubai. Fahad Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai FDI, said that the Forum, which will be held every year from now, is a vital next step in Dubai’s investor outreach and strategic growth plans.
“The Dubai 2021 Plan as well as the UAE Vision 2021 has provided new momentum to Dubai’s strategy to grow sustainably and reinforce its position as the global hub for an expanding regional market. In addition, the fast-evolving infrastructure and policy environment in Dubai enables the city to assertively state its added value and potential as a business location,” added Al Gergawi.
Senior government officials, global business leaders and industry experts, decision-makers from regional and global financial institutions and banks as well as investment consultants and fund managers will come face-to-face at the Forum for discussions centred on the theme, ‘Dubai’s New Investment Landscape.’
“The inaugural Dubai Investment Forum will have a strictly-for-business agenda. With the emphasis being on direct communication, participants can learn about Dubai’s strategic plans and the opportunities in them from the people who are entrusted with implementing those plans. Public and private sector leaders will share their insights from leading, and being part of, the new initiatives in Dubai,” Al Gergawi further said.
His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED, will set the tone of the Forum with his keynote on ‘Opportunities for Growth, Partnership and Innovation.’
“The National Innovation Strategy in the UAE and Dubai’s determined push across new and emerging knowledge areas such as smart services, clean technology and Islamic economy have made the city more appealing for investors and enterprises looking at capacity-building, new markets and sustainable growth,” explained Al Gergawi.
The opening session of the Forum entitled Opportunities for Growth, Partnership and Innovation will see Their Excellences Sami Al Qamzi; Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality; Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director & CEO of Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, elaborating on the vision guiding the strategic investment plans of their respective entities.
Al Gergawi said the opening session itself will provide participants with an overview of opportunities to engage and benefit from Dubai, particularly from the sustainable development strategy of the emirate and a diversity of sectors, from infrastructure to services.
“The next sessions will focus on the key points in the government’s roadmap to facilitate business and investment, strengthen competitiveness, promote innovation and encourage public-private sector collaboration. Overall, the Forum will address investor concerns and clear the way for informed decision-making, leading to improved investment inflows into Dubai,” Al Gergawi stated.
The Forum will also set the stage for local, regional and global investors to connect, build relationships, exchange thought leadership and gain invaluable insights into the major enablers of growth in Dubai.
Every year the agenda of the Forum will be co-developed with strategic partners from consulting firms and global industry leaders with emphasis on stakeholder engagement, innovation and partnership building. The Forum also targets to create cross-border networks led by industry catalysts to engage individual and institutional investors.
The strategic partners of the Forum include Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Roads & Transport Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai South, Dubai Media Inc, Oliver Wyman, Philips Healthcare and PWC. The supporters are Bloomberg Businessweek, Invest and VISION. CNBC Arabia is the media sponsor.
