Edoardo Bonatti
9 aprile 2019
Italy will attend one of the most important Middle East investment fora, taking place in Dubai. The 9th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2019 opened on 8 April under the theme ‘Mapping the Future of FDI: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization’. More than 20,000 entrepreneurs, businessmen, corporate leaders, policymakers, regional and international investors, 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.
Consul General of Italy in Dubai, Valentina Setta and Gianpaolo Bruno, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman, opened the Italian presentation, which highlighted the many foreign direct investment opportunities offered by Italy. Other keynote speakers provided an analysis of the Italian market focusing on capital raising, investment and digital transformation and they are transforming the country’s economy and investment climate.
According to Gianpaolo Bruno Italy wants investors to know that it “has many opportunities for them in various sectors such as Electronics, ICT, Pharmaceuticals, machinery, consumer goods, automotive and others. That is why we are here at AIM to reach out to investors and create awareness about the Italian market. As a one-stop shop, the Italian Trade Agency takes care of the full investment cycle”. He also praised Italy’s increasingly positive standing in the AT Kearney 2018 FDI Confidence Index where it figures as the 10th most attractive country in the world for foreign investment.
In his opening speech, Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Infrastructure Development said that thanks to the wide global participation, including delegations from more than 140 countries from around the world, the AIM is once again cementing its role as one of the largest investment gatherings in the world. All participants will be able “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”.
This edition of AIM also features AIM Startup and Future Cities Show as side events. The former gathers over 150 promising startup companies to help them in developing their business and develop new investment partnerships. The latter will focus on AI, the blockchain, smart infrastructure, smart mobility, and sustainability as the five pillars of future cities’ development and planning.
Sources: Gulf Today, Zawya
