Nightlife

Tag: Discussions

  • Annual Investment Meeting Highlights Digital Transformation, Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Finance in the Arab World

    Annual Investment Meeting Highlights Digital Transformation, Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Finance in the Arab World

    Experts provided insights on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in the financial sector within the Arab world

    Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 2023:  The 12th edition of The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) hosted interactive and insightful discussions on digital transformation, financial inclusion and sustainable finance in the Arab world at the “Future Finance Forum,” which took place at the Sustainability Room of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre.

    The opening ceremony featured welcome remarks from high-level dignitaries such as Rajaa Kammouny, Director & Advisor at the Secretary General Office – Union of Arab Banks; Dr. Wissam H. Fattouh, Secretary General – Union of Arab Banks; Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed El-Etreby, President, Banque Misr; and H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General – League of Arab States.

    Kammouny, the host and Director/Advisor at the Secretary General Office of the Union of Arab Banks, discussed the challenges that they are currently facing and will face in the future. She emphasized the need to be prepared for all these challenges. Dr. Fattouh mentioned that their focus will be on investment opportunities and the sustainability of those investments. He highlighted that steps are being taken to ensure that the challenges they face are being solved.

    El-Etreby, for his part, discussed in this forum the various ways to enhance business and the challenges that businesses are facing, especially due to the pandemic. He acknowledged that the pandemic has changed the economic world and that digital advancements have helped them become more advanced. H.E. Aboul Gheit expressed his gratitude to the Government of the UAE for their efforts in making the forum possible. He mentioned that they are already in the process of achieving digitalization and need to reassess the obstacles they are currently facing.

    This was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Digital Transformation of Financial Sectors in the Arab World and the Role of Financial Technology in Economic Diversification’. Experts in this session provided insights on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in the financial sector within the Arab world.

    This session was led by Anwer Kotob- Moderator, Chief Digital/ Technology Officer, People Leader, United Arab Emirates; Hossam Heiba, General Authority for Investment and Free Zones; Malachi Halliday, CEO & Founder – Halliday Growth; and Rodrigo Garca De La Cruz, Founder & CEO – Finnovating.

    Kotob discussed the role of Fintech in the Arab world and how it plays a crucial role in the development of financial countries. Heiba from GAFI discussed the digital transformation of sectors and the efficiency of Fintech in comparison to traditional methods. He also talked about how digitalization helps government services prosper during the pandemic and promotes investment opportunities using digital platforms.

    Halliday emphasized the significance of startups in economic diversification, stating that access to working capital is crucial for their success. He explained how his company helps solve this challenge by granting easier access to working capital. De La Cruz, the Founder and CEO of Finnovating, emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in accelerating growth for companies. He also discussed the top three techs being used in Fintech, including AI and blockchain, and how Finnovating can help Fintechs find the right partners to work within the UAE.

    In addition, there was a presentation by H.E. Su Xing, the Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee of the Boao Summit Forum on World Financial Firm Technology from the People’s Republic of China, who highlighted how financial technology has become an important support for the development of countries around the world and how they are using digital technology, data resources, and intelligent technology to promote digitalization. He described the ‘Shenquan Forecasting System,’ which has an accuracy rate of up to 85% and helps guide financial institutions and individual users to increase their accounts up to 4 folds in 13 trading days.

    He also mentioned how China’s financial technology companies are launching various innovative products and services, such as real-time global market forecasting technology, digital currency, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and big data, and have brought these financial technologies into the UAE.

    The digital transformation of the financial sector in the Arab world has been accelerating in recent years. With the rise of financial technology (fintech), traditional financial institutions are increasingly adopting digital solutions to enhance their services and reach new customers. Fintech is also playing a significant role in economic diversification in the region, helping to create new business opportunities and stimulate innovation.

    Experts in this session highlighted that by leveraging advanced technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, fintech startups and established players are transforming the way financial services are delivered in the Arab world, making them more accessible, efficient, and secure. This, in turn, is fuelling economic growth and creating a more diversified and resilient economy in the region.

    -ENDS-

  • With participation of 600 speakers in over 160 dialogue sessions

    With participation of 600 speakers in over 160 dialogue sessions

    Abu Dhabi hosts the world’s largest investment forum

     Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 21 March 2023: The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, will be hosting the 12th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM Global 2023) to be held on May 8 to 10 under the theme “The Investment Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity and Prosperity” with over 600 high-level speakers participating in more than 160 dialogue sessions.

    Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the AIM Global for the first time, which is supported by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, is aligned with the emirate’s efforts to further strengthen its economic position in the region and to promote foreign direct investments among the countries of the world by consolidating investment opportunities aimed at sustainable development and leveraging digital technology.

    Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of the Annual Investment Meeting, said: “The Annual Investment Meeting, the largest investment forum, has succeeded throughout its previous editions in solidifying the position of the United Arab Emirates on the global investment map, and in pushing forward its progress over the next 50 years.”

    He added that organizing the 12th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting in Abu Dhabi, which has established itself as a preferred and thriving business and investment destination, is a result of its proactive ability and flexibility in dealing with changes and developments to stimulate and support appropriate events and talents, and providing innovative solutions to face current and future challenges.”

    He also stressed that they are continuously working to establish the foundations of a business system that provides opportunities for growth and prosperity for investors to achieve sustainable economic and social development goals.

    “The event provides businessmen and investors with the opportunity to meet, establish strategic agreements and partnerships, expand their businesses, and introduce new channels of work that are offered by the available investment sectors that are abundant in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and the entire United Arab Emirates,” Al Shezawi added.

    The Annual Investment Meeting brings together a high-level group of leaders, government officials, decision-makers, businessmen, major regional and international investors, key global companies and organizations, as well as smart city solution and technology providers and a number of startups and institutions financing small and medium-sized projects, over the course of three days.

    Its main purpose is to discuss how to better utilize technological innovations to augment investments in companies, encourage technology transfer, and increase competitiveness for countries to achieve economic growth through sustainable investments, and exchange views with governments to create stronger economic structures for investors and unify opportunities for the sustainable growth of the economy.

    This year’s 12th edition seeks to expand the scope of work by launching a range of activities that will benefit all of its participants. It will focus on two main tracks, Investment and Innovation & Technology, and on 10 key sectors, which include Agriculture, Energy, Technology, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Tourism & Hospitality, Transportation & Logistics, Finance, Healthcare, and Education.

    The event agenda

    The Annual Investment Meeting has in its agenda a series of activities and programs, such as a specialized exhibition, investments roundtables, investment awards, startup awards, investor’s hub, investment destinations, B2B,G2B, G2G meetings, regional focus forums as well as pre-conference workshops.

    In addition, several side conferences and events will be organized and hosted, including “Make it in the Emirates”; “Invest in Abu Dhabi”; “Road to the World Investment Forum” in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; “Entrepreneurs Investment Forum” with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); “Bloomberg New Energy Finance Forum”; “Future Finance Forum” with the Union of Arab Banks; “World Local Production Forum” with the World Health Organization; “Tourism Investment Forum” with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); “Agriculture Technology & Food Security Investment Forum” hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; “Least Developed Countries Forum” in partnership with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies; “Finoverse Forum”; “Distressed and Alternative Investment Forum” with the DDC Financial Group; and “Advanced Manufacturing Investment Forum” to be hosted by UNIDO.

     Entrepreneurs Investment Summit (UNIDO)

    Entrepreneurs Investment Summit 2023, organized by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Union of Arab Chambers, and the Investment and Technology Promotion Office of UNIDO in Bahrain, aims to create a platform for promoting bankable investment opportunities led by entrepreneurs/SMEs and macro investments from African and Arab region.

    It also seeks to share best practices and experiences from Africa and the Arab Region on the means of stimulating and unleashing entrepreneurship and joint investments, and deliberate on the challenges, opportunities, threats, and the road forward towards achieving the Arab-African economic integration.

    The Future Finance Forum

    The Future Finance Forum, organized in collaboration with the Union of Arab Banks, will provide a platform for stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, and academia to engage in a comprehensive examination of the trends and challenges shaping the future of finance.

    The theme of the forum “Leveraging Innovative Technologies for Financial Inclusion and Sustainability” reflects the recognition of the critical role that financial innovation plays in promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

     Tourism Investment Forum(UNWTO)

    The UNWTO is organizing the Tourism Investment Forum following the unprecedented and extensive disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the tourism sector, which requires a quantum leap in tourism investments to better support and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

    There is growing consensus among tourism stakeholders as to how the future resilience of tourism will depend on the sector’s ability to balance the needs of People, Planet and Prosperity.

    In line with these goals, the Tourism Investment Forum provides an opportunity for governments, private sector investors, multilateral financial institutions, and development banks to enhance their coordination and combine their capacities and resources to turn priorities into investable projects by unlocking the potential of a new and redefined tourism investment approach.

     Bloomberg New Energy Finance UAE Forum

    The Bloomberg New Energy Finance UAE Forum discusses the dynamic shift in demand for traditional commodities such as oil, gas, and metals in light of the transition to a low-carbon economy, as newer commodities such as power, carbon, hydrogen, and even sustainable aviation fuels will see their landscape change. Participants will also address several questions, such as the role of “clean energy molecules” and what energy producers in the Middle East should expect.

    The forum will also present the results of the New Energy Outlook report and the various net-zero pathways that can emerge for countries and sectors, with the Middle East playing a role in supporting the pathways of other countries.

    Distressed and Alternative Investment Forum

    The DDC Financial Group’s Distressed and Alternative Investment Forum features two dialogue panels. The first, “The Role of Distressed & Alternatives in a Diversified Portfolio,” discusses the available opportunities for investors in the field, the current economic environment and how rising interest rates are creating a unique set of opportunities for distressed debt investors that has not been seen for over a decade.

    The second session sheds light on the Global Distressed and NPL Investing, providing insights into strategies and opportunities available in this field. It involves a discussion on the different asset classes in this sector of the market, including real estate, corporate, and consumer debt, the secondary market, as well as the panelists’ sharing of their experiences and analysis of investing in distressed and NPL assets across different geographies, including emerging markets and developed economies.

    It also covers the challenges and opportunities of investing in these markets, taking into account macroeconomic conditions, industry-specific trends and the unique regulatory and legal frameworks that govern these transactions.

    The Finoverse Arabia Forum

    The Finoverse Arabia Forum discusses the role of FinTechs and the adoption of technology in shaping the future of financial and banking institutions, as well as maximizing their efficiency and profits. It also explores the lessons learned from founding and developing startups, and sharing best practices through several panel discussions that address the intersection of FinTech, artificial intelligence, and Web3.

    This includes transforming business models and strategies across sectors, while addressing the infrastructure gaps and regulatory challenges. The advantages of investing in building a trusted Internet network across regions are also reviewed, along with strategies for securing and attracting the best talent to fuel Web3’s continued growth.

    The AIM Global 2023 is preceded by a series of professional interactive training sessions, led by experienced industry experts from all over the world. There will also be a range of workshops sessions aimed at enriching the participants’ experience and informing them about profitable investment opportunities.

    These workshops will be held one day prior to the event, where governments, smart city solution providers, startups, small and medium-sized companies, and investment opportunity providers touch base to achieve economic growth for their respective countries and regions.

    For more information, please visit the AIM website at www.aimcongress.com.

    -Ends-