AIM 2018 is arranging a full-day series of pre-conference capacity building workshops for the first time, aimed at all participants, Economic Department, Free Zones, Chambers, Private Funds, Investors, Investment Promotion Agencies, Sovereign Wealth Fund and global experts. The capacity building workshops will take place on 8^th of April, a day before AIM starts in full-fledge.

There will be six workshops in total covering several key topics with series of interactive presentations and discussions which will be expedited by a faculty of international experts from International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), WAVTEQ, Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI), GDP Global and Investment Consulting Associates (ICA).

AIM is a platform that emphasises on learning and gathering knowledge. The awareness that workshop attendees will get from global experts, will support them to improve their knowledge on FDI, world economic policies, sovereign funds of different nations, investments, business development and many other fields. Moreover, attendees will get certificates from higher authorities, which will empower them in future.

The prestigious line-up of speakers and panelists for workshops include Philip Kucharski, Chief Operating Officer of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Nicolle Graugnard, Senior Policy Manager for Commission on Trade and Investment Policy, ICC World Trade Agenda Initiative of ICC, Zoe Harries, Marketing and Business Development Director of Investment Consulting Associate (ICA), Laurens Van der Schoor, Free Zones and Incentives Advisor of ICA, Chris Knight, Global Commercial Director of fDi Intelligence, Dr. Henry Loewendahl, CEO of WAVTEQ, Christian Kollinsky, Senior Director of Sustainable Development WAVTEQ, Michael Maduell, President of Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI), John Hanna, Managing Director of GDP Global, Christina Knutsson Director/Partner GDP Global, Jonathan Earl, Managing Director of Strategic Communication of FTI Consulting, Antti Aumo, Executive Director of Business Finland and Yong Kook Kim, Head of Invest Korea, are among many other renowned business leaders.

Dawood Al Shezawi, the CEO of AIM Organising Committee, said “It will be an enriching experience designed to provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of investment-related topics. Sometimes it’s very crucial for projects owners to find right investors. They may have a very good and promising project in hand with no one to invest on.

“Core reason for this is wrong approach to investors. AIM workshop will train project owners to build capacity for attracting investors, financiers and powerful policy makers globally.

“Investment promotion agencies will be trained to be proficient to promote investment, run roadshows and make intellectual investments. The informative approach of this assistance will be combined with a tactical review of operational requirements through practical case studies.”

The eighth edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) is all set to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 9-11, 2018, will produce an outstanding investment conference with top-notch global experts, renowned academics and experienced consultants to update AIM audiences with contemporary investment trends in an ever-changing domain of FDI.

AIM 2017 Conference, which was the seventh edition of AIM, gathered more than 100 powerful FDI intellectuals and renowned experts offering participants the latest investment aptitude, trends and updates on international investment. It also offered parallel sessions which focused on some sector-specific issues such as FDI in agriculture, energy, infrastructure, finance and innovation.

The first workshop of 8^th April will be on emerging technologies and opportunities for Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) in partnership with WAIPA. This workshop will aim to look at how IPAs can contribute to create a sound investment climate for attracting and promoting emerging technologies, and at the same time how these emerging technologies can be used to further attract investment.

The second workshop in partnership with GDP Global, will focus on enabling policies and programs to create competitive city regions and programs that all city regions need to deliver on; hard, soft and digital infrastructure, environment, global trade, education, entrepreneurship and innovation.

This will be followed by the ICC workshop; which will explore how chambers of commerce can undertake in fostering public-private dialogues, catalysing new partnerships and alliances, and exploring innovative business solutions to accelerate sustainable development.

The interactive session will bring together business leaders to share best practices and to discuss the pivotal role chambers of commerce will play in reaching the SDGs. A key feature of the workshop will be an exchange of views on how the private sector can work with governments to achieve inclusive, people-centered sustainable development.

The fourth workshop will be coved by the president of the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, which breaks into a specialized discussion of how public asset owners of all shapes and size – including sovereign funds, development banks, public pensions, and superannuation funds – have been employed by governments in increasing numbers to address an array of fiscal and economic challenges in an ever-changing financial landscape.

The next workshop focuses on maximising the benefits of sustainable investment, in partnership with WAVTEQ. The workshop will focus on how sustainable investment increases the benefits of FDI for a nation, what are the latest trends in sustainable investment and how can an organisation attract sustainable investment.

The sixth and last workshop, in partnership with Investment Consulting Associates, will address how companies make investment decisions and how investment promotion agencies influence the location decision-making process through marketing and communications.

AIM, the largest annual gathering of government ministers, trade bodies, chambers of commerce and industries, investment authorities as well as private investor groups, will see a flurry of activities including investment policy reforms, ease in doing business to allow greater flow of capital and goods movement across the region.

In a span of three days, an array of activities are staged including a Conference, Exhibition, Capacity Building Workshops, Country Presentations, Investors’ Hub, Gala Dinner, Investment Awards, various G2G, G2B and B2B Networking Features, AIM Start-up Innovation Showcase and Pitch Competition.