Dubai
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, has announced the launch of the ‘Hamdan Centre for the Future of Investment’ (HCFI), a global initiative that aims to promote the contribution of foreign direct investment (FDI) to sustainable development.
“Introducing, a first-of-its-kind, integrated framework to develop ‘Impact FDI’ standards and projects will further enhance Dubai’s unique advantages as a globally recognised and preferred FDI destination,” Shaikh Hamdan said. He pointed out that transforming the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into economic, social and environmental realities will create exceptional opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs worldwide. Shaikh Hamdan also called for the integration of global efforts to accelerate the development and financing of SDGs-oriented projects towards attracting private sector investments. “Transforming the challenges facing ‘Impact FDI’ into opportunities requires effective global, regional and local partnerships,” he concluded.
A global partnership
The Hamdan Centre for the Future of Investment operates under the umbrella of Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of Dubai Economy. HCFI aims to present a global partnership model that reinforces Dubai’s leadership in providing a thriving investment ecosystem that keeps pace with global shifts towards sustainable investment and new forms of investment (NFIs).
To this end, Dubai FDI is building a value network of national, regional and international professionals, strategic partnerships with the local and international investor communities and cooperation platforms with regional and international organisations, financial institutions and research centres.
HCFI will commence its activities with three main programmes under the ‘Impact FDI’ theme. The first of this is the ‘Impact FDI Thought Leadership and Strategic Foresight Programme,’ which aims to establish new terms of reference that differentiate the ‘Impact FDI’ framework and its role in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future. The second features the ‘Impact FDI Partnership Programme,’ which aims to establish local, regional and global partnerships to promote greater private sector contributions to achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate direct capital flows into SDGs-oriented FDI projects. The third is the ‘Impact FDI Index Programme,’ which aims to provide data analytics and evaluation tools to measure the economic, social and environmental impact of ‘Impact FDI’ projects.
HCFI will also provide a number of services through knowledge platforms, to establish Dubai and the UAE as a centre of excellence in the research and development of ‘Impact FDI’ projects and the role of FDI in achieving economic diversification, resilience, and sustainability in a post-oil era.
Dubai Investment Week
The main programmes of HCFI will be announced at the ‘Sustainable Investment Forum’ to be held on Tuesday, 17 October as part of the ‘Dubai Investment Week,’ held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in the presence of a number of strategic partners, experts and stakeholders.
The Forum includes a keynote panel on regional and local initiatives supporting SDG integration into corporate and business strategies and practices as well as a round-table on attracting ‘Impact FDI’.
