UAE all set for 10th edition of Annual Investment Meeting
Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), world’s leading investment platform, an initiative of the UAE Ministry of Economy, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, is gearing up to mark its 10th edition at Dubai World Trade Centre on 24-26 March 2020.
AIM 2020 themed ‘Investing for the Future: Shaping Global Investment Strategies’ will offer delegates from around 150 countries a unique platform to keep abreast of latest trends and best practices in investments around the world.
Registration for the major investment event, that marks a decade in 2020, will soon begin on https://www.aimcongress.com
Commenting on AIM 2020, HE Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE minister of economy, said, “Breaking our tradition of focusing on FDI, this year we have diversified AIM portfolio under 5 Pillars to help countries meet challenges that hinder sustainable economic growth. Exploring the possibilities for new avenues of investments to boost the market, is the need of the hour, and global economies have to join hands for the future.”
In its newest edition, AIM goes bigger by adopting multi-featured 5 Pillars – foreign direct investment (FDI), startups, future cities, small & medium enterprises, foreign portfolio investment – and One Belt, One Road event; and two community-based activities to support least developed countries.
The pillars are aimed at helping participating countries to maximise their opportunities through key features of AIM – learn, showcase, network, invest, recognise and socialise – which will have separate segments such as conferences, exhibitions, workshops, B2B, G2B, G2G meetings, investment roundtables, award distributions and gala dinner.
Know the 5 Pillars
FDI: One of the 5 Pillars of Annual Investment Meeting 2020, FDI Pillar will help investors to know more about investment opportunities across the world. As global economies are seeking new avenues of investments to boost FDI inflows, this pillar will help them explore new avenues of investments in traditional as well as new industries. It will also help investors to ensure smooth transition of economy in preferred locations.
FPI: This pillar adds value to the entire AIM agenda as it gives investors a platform to diversify their portfolio and helps to connect with local business organisations by attracting investments in terms of stocks and bonds. AIM believes FPIs can bridge a gap in investment flow by securing an infusion of assets from govt funds or sovereign funds or venture capitals or family businesses. Above all, it is risk-free for investors.
SMEs: This pillar will help SMEs find new sources of financing solutions as well as get an access to markets worldwide. According to the World Bank report, there are around 445 million SMEs in the emerging markets, and they contribute up to 60% of total employment and up to 40% of gross domestic product in emerging countries. As SMEs are heterogeneous in nature, this AIM pillar will bring them under one roof.
Startups: As startups play a crucial role in strengthening new industries, this AIM Pillar helps investors to raise early stage venture capital or seed funding to start a business. According to reports, the unprecedented rise of startups in recent years will ensure economic growth and sustainability which in turn could support 9.7 billion population by 2050. This pillar will help investors seeking new projects for investments, as well as governments, who look for start-up projects to boost the economy.
Future Cities: As the world is gearing up for a future which will be identified by its smart solutions, AIM has intelligently incorporated Future Cities as one of its 5 Pillars, enabling governments and investors to embrace disruptive innovation that will replace traditional services. As cities across the world are striving to introduce smart solutions to improve lives of people, this pillar will help investors, public and private sectors as well as countries.
One Belt, One Road: This AIM special event will unlock huge investment opportunities within the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. BRI, which was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of increasing business integrations and increasing trade and stimulating economic growth, is expected to mobilise trillions of dollars for the infrastructure development in emerging market economies cutting across Asia, Africa, Europe, Africa and even Pacific regions. Around 4.4 billion people are expected to benefit from the BRI, which call for private-public partnership in key sectors.
Business sessions & Forums
AIM 2020 will have 3 Regional Focus Investment sessions for Latin America, Africa, and Asia regions; 3 business forums with a focus on Latin America-Middle East, Middle East-Asia, and Africa-Middle East, which will unveil the investment opportunities in these regions.
Besides, it will feature 3 investment reports in cooperation with United Nation Economic Commissions for Africa (ECA), Asia (ESCAP) and Latin America (ECLAC) which will give an overview of SMEs and Startups in emerging markets.
Boosting developed countries
Adding more colour to the business event, AIM 2020 will have two unique socialising programmes to attract more participation from the general public as well as delegates.
The two fundraising activities ‑ Fun Run & AIM World Cup 2020 ‑ with community participation would mix business with entertainment at the 10th anniversary edition. Revenues generated from the events will go to AIM Investment Fund aimed at supporting the governments in developed countries.
Fun Run participated by UAE citizens and residents aged three years and above, will be held on March 21, 2020, and it covers distances of 1.5km, 3km, 5km, 10km race, walk or sprint.
Meanwhile, 16 teams, including investors, from all continents will take part in the Football Investment World Cup that aims to facilitate socialising between members of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPA). Tickets will be made available for the public to watch the friendly tournament which will be held on 21 -22 March 2020.
The Football World Cup will feature in all the future editions of the AIM, a common platform for investors and countries to familiarise with the latest investment trends and opportunities across the world.