Welcome to WIC 2025 Highlights
The 29th World Investment Conference (WIC 2025) officially opened in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, under the patronage of the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) and in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment, marking the beginning of two days of high-level dialogue on global investment, sustainability and innovation.
12000+
Participants
924.5 millions
Potential Investment
142+
Countries
250
B2B Meetings
160+
Sessions
130+
Speakers
120+
Business Meetings
211
Qualified Investment Meetings
104.5 m
MoUs, Contracts & Commitments
100%
Participant Satisfaction
Outcomes Report
The World Investment Conference 2025 reinforced its position as a leading global platform for investment and development, bringing together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders in Sharjah. The conference highlighted key trends shaping global investment, including the growing importance of sustainability, economic resilience, and digital transformation. Discussions emphasized innovative financing models, risk mitigation strategies, and the expanding role of AI and the digital economy in directing capital flows. The event also reaffirmed the UAE’s attractiveness as an investment hub, with Sharjah positioned as a driver of innovation and sustainable growth. Tangible outcomes included successful deal-making initiatives such as Seal the Deal, alongside strong international participation, high-level networking, and extensive media coverage, underscoring the conference’s global impact.
The Executive Board of WIC
The Executive Board guide every aspect of the conference—from agenda-setting to launching global initiatives—ensuring that WIC reflects WAIPA’s mission of fostering sustainable investments and strengthening collaboration among IPAs, for more information view The Executive Board page.
#29thWIC Top Highlights
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony featured remarks from H.H. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); H.E. Abdullah Bin Touq, UAE Minister of Economy; and Dr. James Zhan, Chairman of the WIC Executive Board and WAIPA.
Addressing hundreds of delegates from more than 100 countries, H.H. Sheikha Bodour welcomed participants to the emirate, highlighting Sharjah’s growing role as a platform for sustainable and responsible investment. She emphasised that WIC 2025 “comes at a pivotal time for the global economy, when collaboration between nations, investors, and institutions is more essential than ever.”
Dynamic discussions and high-level panels
Throughout the day, delegates participated in a rich series of sessions addressing sustainability, resilience, digital transformation and innovation in investment promotion. Highlights included:
- Global Leaders’ Insights panel, featuring senior ministers and international experts discussing new strategies for investment facilitation in a shifting global economy.
- A fireside chat with entrepreneur Raj Shamani, exploring how digital creators and influencers are shaping modern investment trends.
- “Green is the New Gold”, a high-level discussion on sustainable investment as a source of competitive advantage, with speakers including H.E. Amna Al Dahhak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Prof. Raekwon Chung, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and climate policy expert.
- “Future-Proofing Economics” featuring senior economic leaders including H.E. Fahad Al Gergawi, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, and Mrs. Taliya Minullina, CEO, Tatarstan Investment Development Agency.
Smart Investment, Sustainable Impact
Day Two sessions focused on how smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence and sustainable finance are redefining global competitiveness.
Panels such as “Transforming Industries Through Smart Manufacturing”, “The Impact of AI and Sustainability on Investment Decisions”, and “Reimagining Global Investment: Smart Policies for a Resilient Future” featured leaders from MoIAT, Siemens, Honeywell, AIIB, and UNIDO, alongside representatives from top IPAs.
Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony
The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) celebrated outstanding achievements in global investment promotion during a glittering Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on the opening evening of the 29th World Investment Conference (WIC), held at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP).
The event, hosted in collaboration with Invest in Sharjah, brought together high-level policymakers, investors, and representatives of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) from around the world. The evening featured traditional cultural performances and remarks from distinguished speakers, including H.E. Mohamed Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, and Mr. Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director and CEO of WAIPA.
2025 Award Winners
The WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards 2025 recognized exemplary performance in investment promotion, facilitation, and sustainable impact. Winners were selected by an independent jury of global experts.
- Special LDC Awards — Uganda Investment Authority, ANAPI (DR Congo), and Tanzania Investment & SEZ Authority
- AI Trailblazer Award — Invest Korea
- Innovative Investment Promotion Campaign — Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board
- Excellence in Investment Facilitation — Invest India
- Sustainability Impact — ApexBrasil
- Excellence in Aftercare — Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
- Voice of Investors — Invest Minas (Brazil)
- Outstanding Dedication & Excellence in Hosting WIC 2025 — Invest in Sharjah
Program Details
The World Investment Conference 2025 in Sharjah brought together global leaders over two days to explore sustainable investment, AI-driven opportunities, and economic resilience. Highlights included Seal the Deal—a pitch initiative securing over AED 4M for startups—and discussions on de-risking investments, green finance, and youth entrepreneurship. The event reinforced Sharjah and the UAE as hub for innovation and global capital.
Detailed agenda by day:
Day 1: October 22nd 2025
- Welcome & Opening Speeches
- Keynote | Voice of the Global Investment Community
- Setting the Stage | Addressing Key Emerging Challenges and Opportunities
- WIC–SIF 2025 Sponsors Awards
- Global Leaders’ Insights | Re-strategizing Investment Promotion and Facilitation at the Global Economic Shift
- Fireside Chat | From Content to Capital: How the Digital Generation is Shaping Global Investments
- High-Level Panel | Green is the New Gold: Competitive Advantage Through Sustainable Investment
- Executive Focus | Start-ups and SMEs as Strategic FDI Catalysts
- Thematic Session | Private Equity Funds for Investment Impact
- In Focus | Intro to the Services of the Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Projects
- High-Level Panel | Future Proofing Economics – From Risk to Resilience
- Executive Focus | From Policy to Performance: What Works in Attracting FDI
- Thematic Session | Smart Cities, Future Markets
- In Focus | Growth Capital Unlocked: Scaling UAE Businesses with the Emirates Growth Fund
- Keynote | Capital that Grows with You: Empowering National Champions
- Fireside Chat | De-risking Investment Amid Global Shocks
- High-Level Panel | Creating a Seamless Investment Environment
- Special Spotlight | Turning Local Strength into Global Opportunities
- In Focus | Delivering the Future: NXN and Waslah’s Role in Building the UAE’s Seamless Digital Logistics Network
- In Focus | Visit Sharjah – The Destination for Investment, Hospitality, Culture & Education
- High-Level Panel | Aligning Global Finance with Sustainability
- High-Level Panel | Harnessing International Investment for the Digital Economy
- Thematic Session | FDI in Services – A Key Engine of Global Growth
- Executive Focus | AI and the Future of International Investment
- Gala Dinner and Culture Show | WAIPA Investment Awards Ceremony
Day 2: October 23rd 2025
- High-Level Panel | Transforming Industries Through Smart Manufacturing
- High-Level Panel | The Impact of AI and Sustainability on Investment Decisions
- Executive Focus | Data-Driven Investment: Unlocking Opportunities Through Statistical Insights
- High-Level Panel | Visionary Investment in Cities, e-Commerce, and Human Potential
- High-Level Panel | Sharjah 2030: Driving Innovation, Investment, and Sustainable Growth
- High-Level Consortium of Think Tanks | Setting Future Agenda for Investment Policymaking
- Special Spotlight for OIC | Leveraging Insights from the OIC Investment Opportunities Report: The Role of IPAs in the Digital Economy and Digitalization of Investment Promotion Services
- Thematic Session | Why to Invest in Tourism? Global and Regional Trends High-Level Panel | Beyond Borders: What Makes the UAE Home for Global Icons
- Thematic Session – ILO | Beyond the Bottom Line – Turning FDI into Better Jobs
- In Focus | Youth Initiatives & Entrepreneurship: From Ideas to Impact
- Fireside Chat | Future Investment Policy and Its Interface with Other Key Policies
- Executive Focus | Catalysts of Capital: SWFs, PFs, and the Future of Global Investment
- Thematic Session | Streamlined Licensing and Policies for a Stronger Business Environment
- Fireside Chat | Scaling Change Through Investment
- Thematic Session | Looking at the Glass Half Full: The Comparative Advantage of SIDS, LLDCs, and LDCs
- Thematic Session | Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s Role as a Sustainable Infrastructure Financier
- Fireside Chat | WFZO–UN Tourism Special Economic Zones and Other Enablers for Tourism Investment High-Level Panel | Reimagining Global Investment: Smart Policies for a Resilient Future
- Executive Focus – ITC | Integrating Environmental & Social Priorities into IPA Strategies
- High-Level Panel | WAIPA @30: A Decade of Investment for Good in an Era of Challenged Multilateralism
- High-Level Panel – UNIDO | Scaling Impact: Aligning Investment Strategies with SDGs Fireside Chat | Vision, Venture, Value: Shaping the Region Through Leadership Seal the Deal
- WAIPA SCRIPA Closed Session | Investment Collaboration Among Regional IPA Associations, Groups, and IOs
- WIC-SIF Closing Ceremony | Conference Takeaways
Press Releases
A milestone for WAIPA and Sharjah
The 2025 edition of WIC carries special significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of WAIPA, celebrating three decades of empowering investment promotion agencies and advancing sustainable global development.
“WIC has always been more than a conference — it’s a unique platform that connects the world’s leading minds in investment to share knowledge, innovation and vision,” said Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director and CEO of WAIPA. “This year’s opening day has reaffirmed our collective commitment to a future where investment serves people, planet, and prosperity.”
About World Investment Conference
Hosted since 1995, the WAIPA World Investment Conference (WIC) is a forum where IPAs convene to address current economic and social issues that may affect global investment flows and other strategic and policy considerations. The Conference includes formal panel presentations, ample networking opportunities and social events for the members. Past panelists include global and business leaders, along with other influencers like economists and members of academia. The topics of the panels are selected based on current events and trends.
For more information check out our previous legacy of WICs here.