More than 300 international investors, CEOs and high-profile economists to attend region’s largest FDI event
The Gateway to the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia is the title of the second Sharjah FDI Forum, MENA’s largest global foreign direct investment (FDI) event that takes place on September 28-29, 2016 in Sharjah, the third largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 is being held in association with the Financial Times newspaper and fDi Magazine and under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The event is being organised by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq).
Sharjah FDI Forum 2016 will host more than 300 decision makers, business leaders and economic experts to exchange their knowledge and expertise on trends and developments in FDI in the UAE, Middle East and across the globe. The platform will analyse the current economic conditions prevailing in Sharjah and the UAE and evaluate the potential opportunities that derive from them. Featuring keynote presentations and lively panel debates, this year’s forum aims to build on the success of the inaugural event in 2015 that was held to capitalise on the UAE’s 2014 first placed position as the most attractive country for FDI in the Middle East and Africa.
“According to a recent report published by the Global Innovation Index, it ranked the UAE first among Arab countries in terms of overall performance on the index with an estimate rise of 11 billion USD in FDI. What positions Sharjah in a competitive advantage in this context is its unique economic competencies, geographic location and investment-friendly infrastructure which complete the remaining 6 emirates’ distinctive economic features,” said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq.
UAE Ministry of Economy figures from 2016 reveal that accumulated foreign investment in the country had increased to USD 126 billion by year-end 2015 compared to USD 115 billion by year-end 2014. In 2015, the government ministry estimated the country’s FDI share as 46% of the total investment flow to the GCC, valued at approximately USD 22 billion.