Sharjah: Sharjah is set to host the 8th edition of the Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2025) alongside the World Investment Conference (WIC), marking a first for the emirate. Bringing together delegations from 142 countries and over 30 international organizations, the joint event will explore strategies for aligning investment flows with inclusive and sustainable development, amid a reported global annual financing gap exceeding USD 4.2 trillion required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event will take place from October 22 to 23 at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre. This year's edition stands out for its scale, inclusivity, and international representation, featuring high-level delegations from countries including the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt. This diversity of participants underscores Sharjah's role as a global hub for economic dialogue.
Organized by Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), in collaboration with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the UAE Ministry of Investment, the forum will bring together policymakers, economic leaders, investment promotion agencies, research institutions, and development bodies under the theme 'Transforming Our World: Investing for a Resilient and Sustainable Future'.
Marwan Alichla, the Coordinator General of the SIF Committee, noted that this year's forum carries an unprecedented international scope, with an agenda tackling critical topics shaping the future of investment and development. He stated that the forum is designed to foster international dialogue and align visions across markets and business communities.
Dr. James Zhan, Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Investment Conference, emphasized that the World Investment Conference is WAIPA's flagship event where vision meets capital. He expressed pride in co-organizing WIC in Sharjah this year, in parallel with the Sharjah Investment Forum, to chart a new investment-development course for years to come.
A highlight of the event will be an intensive executive workshop led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in partnership with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, focused on enhancing the performance of investment promotion agencies to better facilitate foreign direct investment. Additionally, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) will host a high-level session to present actionable models for integrating sustainable development goals into national and institutional investment frameworks.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) will lead a discussion titled 'Beyond the Bottom Line: Turning FDI into More and Better Jobs', highlighting policies that connect investment with quality job creation and productivity gains. Similarly, the International Trade Centre (ITC) will examine how to effectively embed environmental and social priorities into promotion strategies.
The agenda also dedicates focus to specific sectors and collaboration, with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) and the World Free Zones Organisation (World FZO) co-hosting a session to showcase their potential as incubators for innovation and employment. Finally, the WAIPA-SCRIPA session will convene investment promotion agencies from across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia to enhance data sharing and foster deeper inter-regional cooperation.
The SIF 2025 agenda also includes high-level think tank panels and policy discussions to shape future agendas in the investment sector. These conversations come at a time when funding for SDG-aligned sectors has dropped by over 10% in recent years, reinforcing the need for coordinated efforts to redirect investment and activate responsive policy frameworks.