Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Preparations for the 4th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) scheduled from April 8 - 10, 2014 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre are in full swing, UAE Economy Ministry reported on January 16.

Delivering the speech on behalf of Economy Minister, Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Economy, Foreign Trade Sector o Abdulla Al Saleh said the past three editions of AIM succeeded in putting the spotlight on challenges and opportunities facing investments in the region and globally.

He added that the fourth edition comes at a time the UAE has moved to the forefront as a key investment destination globally.

Al Saleh said the UAE had become a tier-one investment destination thanks to its conducive business environment backed by its unique features and advantages like its strategic location, logistics infrastructure, high flexibility and increase inflow of foreign investment.

Al Saleh lauded quoting Al Mansoori the UAE government's initiatives in maintaining a lead position when came to international and regional investment inflow.

This year, the meeting will focus on the theme 'Investment Partnerships for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Frontier and Emerging Markets.' Representatives of 165 countries have been invited to the forum that is expected to attract 10,000 visitors.

Al Saleh said the AIM 2014 comes at a time when global growth is still in low gear and the drivers of growth are shifting, according to the IMF's latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) report. The IMF had forecast global growth to average 2.9 percent in 2013. However, much of the pickup in growth is expected to be driven by advanced economies.

"In the UAE, the economy is back on the growth path, thanks to a balanced national strategy based on our comparative advantages and supportive policies toward entrepreneurship and private sector development. Increased government spending and a significant resurgence in tourism, transport and trade has contributed to this upswing," Al Saleh said.

Al Saleh said on UAE's Expo 2020 win the successful bid will whet appetite of foreign investors to invest in UAE services sectors in 2014.

"For the first time, developing countries absorbed more FDI than developed countries, with a 52% share," he said.

Al Saleh further said the AIM has attracted the participation of a variety of Economy Ministers, undersecretaries, decision-makers, economists, experts and analysts, businessmen and investors in addition to the media of the world and the region.

He stressed the UAE has succeeded in attracting foreign direct investment through globalization and its strong role as a prominent player in the modernized globalized economy.

Al Saleh added that the UAE has the advantages of the ideal economic and investment environment supported by a modern integrated structure of airports and ports, communications, transportation and logistics services.

Meanwhile, Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, AIM's Organizing Committee said international and regional investors are keen to attend this global event that will review a host of investment options, and share practices and experiences, with a focus on simplifying and maximizing investments in emerging countries.

He noted that the event will see participation of more than 10,000 senior officials from the UAE and the world.

This year, the new addition will be the Ministerial Roundtable, a high level forum involving ministers from various countries, business leaders, and representatives of multilateral agencies as well as world renowned experts from research centers and academia.

In the last two days of AIM, the focus will be on investment in the agricultural sector, tourism and entertainment industries, infrastructure and logistics sector as well as discussions on investments pertaining to Expo 2020, risk management, dynamic institutional investments and investments in the sectors of energy, manufacturing and financial operations and a panel discussion on investments in China as well as case studies on best practices of investment in emerging markets.

Al Shezawi said the AIM 2014 will look into investment opportunities in emerging markets in Asia, Africa and the rest of the world.

He said the forum will focus on the challenges facing the global economy and their impact on foreign direct investment as well as the necessary legislations to promote investment partnerships and maximize investments, mergers and acquisitions.

Al Shezawi added that the AIM will also assess significance of investing in different economic sectors and other issues critical to investments in modernized global economy.