Saudi Arabia to host World Investment Conference 2024
Saudi Arabia will host the 28th World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) World Investment Conference (WIC) in Riyadh on 25-27 November 2024.
The conference, themed “Future-ready IPAs: Navigating Digital Disruption and Sustainable Growth”, will bring together leaders from investment promotion agencies, corporates, multilateral institutions and other stakeholders to discuss global investment trends and opportunities.
His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s minister of investment, said the country’s selection as a host nation in the Middle East for the conference underscored its position as a global investment hub.
“We are honoured to be welcoming the global investment community to Saudi Arabia,” Al-Falih said. “Our strategic location at the crossroads of three continents, coupled with our world-class investment ecosystem and long-term political and economic stability, has seen the Kingdom develop into a global investment hub.
“The World Investment Conference will serve as a platform to showcase our nation’s potential and forge partnerships that will shape the global investment landscape for years to come.”
Economic growth
Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s economic growth and diversification blueprint, the economy has grown by 60% since 2017 and the non-oil economy is approaching 50% of GDP. This has been driven by a 52% increase in the stock of foreign direct investment and a 337% increase in FDI inflows since 2017.
Further investment in the Kingdom is being driven by megaprojects such as NEOM, the Red Sea and Qiddiya, as well as the hosting of Expo 2030 and the AFC Asian Cup.
The World Investment Conference is the flagship event of WAIPA, the main global body representing investment promotion agencies.
Ismail Ersahin, executive director and chief executive, said: “WAIPA is honoured that the 28th World Investment Conference will be held in Riyadh. We are convinced that together with our host, the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority, the 28th WIC will be an impactful gathering aimed at the future-readiness of IPAs.”
