Bid to boost ‘frontier’ trade and investment

Top-level government officials representing more than 80 countries are expected to attend the third Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress 2013 in Dubai to define the future economic landscape for frontier and emerging markets.

The third edition of AIM, organised by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE vice- president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will provide a comprehensive and genuine assessment of investment opportunities in frontier, emerging and transition economies with a special focus on some high-growth regions such as Africa and Asia as well as the Middle East and North Africa; and in particular the UAE, which has become a regional economic powerhouse.

With the theme “A Future International Economic Landscape in the making, implications on FDI Growth in Frontier and Emerging Countries”, AIM Congress 2013 hopes to facilitate discussions and direct action plans that will further boost trade activities in and among developing economies through unrivalled conference and country presentations as well as panel discussions; in addition to B2B meetings and a plethora of other networking opportunities.

The keynote address will be delivered by Karl Sauvant, resident senior fellow, Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment, and former director of the UNCTAD investment division.

“The conference will provide, not only an in-depth analysis of global trade and investment trends and major policy developments therein, but it will also feature a series of sessions focusing on policy responses to reignite growth, foreign investment policies, strategies and objectives of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and fiscal policies and investment incentives in a fiercely competitive world,” said HE Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, UAE.

“While the world continues to grapple with one of the most severe economic crisis, with high unemployment rates, mounting sovereign debt and limited economic growth in mature markets, emerging and frontier markets continue to grow and are leading the FDI recovery.”

For its significant contributions to the development of trade and investments in emerging frontier markets, AIM Congress has received global attention, with leading development organisations confirming their participation at this year’s event, including  the United National Economic Commission for Europe, (UNECE), the United National Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The AIM Congress 2013 is scheduled to take place on April 30 to May 2 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre