Smart future: Dubai Annual Investment Meeting aims for sustainable growth

The Dubai Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) is an initiative of the UAE Ministry of Economy to provide a framework for global exchange on international investment policies and growth. The platform aspires to ignite positive transformation by creating investment opportunities.

The eleventh edition of AIM was opened by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, UAE who set out the agenda.

“The AIM framework (was) specifically created to promote global exchange on the key principles underpinning investments, movements and trends to drive smart and inclusive global growth,” he said.

The theme this year was on investments in sustainable innovation for a thriving future. Organisers said this translates into foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, SMEs and start-ups, and the future of cities.

Dawood Al Shezawi, President of Organising Committee, Annual Investment Meeting said they bring countries together to promote their foreign direct investment and promote their entrepreneurs.

Over 174 countries took part in a three-day event held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020

Ana Draskovic is the Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. She was speaking on a panel on sustainability.

“One of the messages that is also quite interesting is that sustainability is no longer a cost to business. It is actually a fantastic business opportunity. So completely new asset class, and something that everybody should be looking into,” she said.

As well as focussing on attracting new investments, AIM set an agenda for the year ahead to look towards developing youth entrepreneurship and more future cities.

During AIM, organisers revealed that at the event businesses expressed their bullishness on the further