The UAE believes in the importance of technology as a major catalyst for economic growth and has been keen to keep abreast of new trends and their applications in various areas of trade, according to Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development.

"We strongly believe in the importance of joint efforts in narrowing the digital divide, in order to capitalise on the digital economy," said the minister in his keynote speech before the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2019, which opened today under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and in the presence of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.

The 9th edition of the world’s biggest platform for foreign direct investment (FDI) will run until 10th of April in Dubai under the theme ‘Mapping the Future of FDI: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalisation’.

The event also witnessed the presence of four presidents, one Deputy President and 40 ministers, including Evo Morales, President, Plurinational State of Bolivia; Muhammadu Buhari, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Rustam Minnikhanov, President of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of Chechen Republic, Russian Federation, and Huchiev Muslim, Deputy Chairman of Chechen Republic, Russian Federation.

"We are delighted to welcome all of you to the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Annual Investment Meeting. The forum, organised by the Ministry of Economy, has become a prominent event on the regional and international arenas as one of the largest investment gatherings in the world. We are honored by the wide global participation in this year's edition, which includes delegations from more than 140 countries from around the world, who have gathered here to jointly explore the latest trends in foreign direct investment, as well as to exchange experiences and knowledge, explore business opportunities, and sign cooperation agreements and partnerships. As this edition of the Meeting coincides with the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, this platform also presents us with another opportunity to emphasise the value of tolerance and its importance in promoting joint efforts that are essential for productive partnerships and development," added the minister.

He further stated that the outlook for the future remains optimistic, given the 3.7 percent global economic growth experienced in 2018 and with the International Monetary Fund estimating that the world economy will continue to grow in 2019 by 3.5 percent.

"At the national level, the UAE continues to rank first in the region in terms of FDI inflows, which in 2018 amounted to USD 10.4 billion according to the Central Bank of UAE estimates. For the past six consecutive years, the UAE has been leading the Arab countries in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index.’ IMF maintains positive economic forecasts in this regard, as the country's GDP growth is estimated at 3.7 per cent this year," added Dr. Abdullah Al Nuaimi.

"The UAE has paid great attention to the development of infrastructure and roads, being aware of its importance in promoting investments. The country has also been able to achieve internationally high rankings on global competitiveness indicators in this domain. These include second place in the satisfaction with streets and highways, which constitute one of the best infrastructures in the world. Furthermore, the UAE has accomplished some prestigious achievements through successful partnerships between the public and private sectors in the area of infrastructure projects, reflecting the importance of joint endeavors by both sectors and attracting more investors," he added.

According to Al Nuaimi, globalisation is progressing on new paths. The UAE believes in the importance of technology as a major catalyst for economic growth and has been keen to keep abreast of new trends and their applications in various areas of trade. We strongly believe in the importance of joint efforts in narrowing the digital divide, in order to capitalise on the digital economy.

Participating at the exhibition is Al Ahli Holding Group, a multi-billion-dollar company which has been operating in the UAE for past four decades. The UAE owned company, which is also a family business was the first to introduce the concept of outlet mall in the region as well as bring female gyms to the country.

This edition of AIM also features AIM Startup and Future Cities Show, which are happening in conjunction with the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2019. The latest edition of AIM Startup has over 150 promising startup companies under one roof to help facilitate business interactions and investment partnerships with major investors, business leaders, representatives of international institutions, and government entities. The Future Cities Show, on the other hand, will focus on five leading future city solutions, namely AI, blockchain, smart infrastructure, smart mobility, and sustainability.

According to Walid Farghal, Project Manager for AIM Startup and Future Cities Show, the event unites leaders from various industries to interact, discuss, and showcase top-notch solutions for a smart sustainable future.

Over 20,000+ corporate leaders, policy makers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics, experts, and stakeholders from over 140+ countries from Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, and Asia are participating in the three-day event. The prestigious gathering this year will run under the theme ‘Mapping the Future of FDI: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization’.

It has been noted that the digital technologies particularly, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and other disruptive technology are all major and initiatives for FDIs. The UAE has a potential to increase 3.7 to 10.8 trillion mobile networks by 2025, where AI adoption will account for 45 percent of the total.

"Policy makers worldwide are looking for ways to inject new energy to FDI flows given that international investments play a vital role in sustainable development of many states, especially for developing countries. Amidst these challenges, it is imperative that we continue our dialogues to come up with the best solutions. International leaders and decision makers from the government and private sectors are present in this year’s event to tackle these challenges as well as key opportunities that we can optimize," said Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO of Annual Investment Organising Committee.

"In the UAE, which has embarked on intensive digital transformation efforts, FDIs play a visible role in the country’s economic diversification strategy and preparation for a post-oil future. The government has implemented key policies and programs to attract foreign investors according to UAE Vision 2021. These efforts have yielded positive results amidst growing confidence of the international community in the Arab nation," he added.

Source: WAM