The Annual Investment Meeting 2013 (AIM)

PRESS RELEASE

UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade’s Annual Investment Meeting to host international gathering on the emerging international economic landscape

• AIM Congress 2013 announces patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai
• Global leaders and economic experts to discuss growth prospects of frontier and emerging markets

Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 21 January 2013 – Top-level government officials representing more than 80 countries are expected to attend the Third Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress 2013 in Dubai to define the future economic landscape for frontier and emerging markets.

 The third edition of AIM, organised by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai will provide a comprehensive and genuine assessment of investment opportunities in frontier, emerging and transition economies with a special focus on some high growth regions such as Africa and Asia as well as the Middle East and North Africa; and in particular the United Arab Emirates, which has become a regional economic powerhouse.

With the theme “A Future International Economic Landscape in the making, implications on FDI Growth in Frontier and Emerging Countries”, AIM Congress 2013 hopes to facilitate discussions and direct action plans that will further boost trade activities in and among developing economies through unrivalled conference and country presentations as well as panel discussions; in addition to B2B meetings and a plethora of other networking opportunities.

The keynote address will be delivered by Karl Sauvant, Resident Senior Fellow, Vale Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment, and former Director of the UNCTAD Investment Division.

 “The conference will provide, not only an in-depth analysis of global trade and investment trends and major policy developments therein, but it will also feature a series of sessions focusing on policy responses to reignite growth, foreign investment policies, strategies and objectives of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and fiscal policies and investment incentives in a fiercely competitive world,” said HE Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, UAE. “While the world continues to grapple with one of the most severe economic crisis, with high unemployment rates, mounting sovereign debt and limited economic growth in mature markets, emerging and frontier markets continue to grow and are leading the FDI recovery.”

 Last year, the AIM Congress reached new heights with record participation from countries, as well as regional and international investment and trade communities. The 2012 edition accomplished concrete and tangible results as sizeable transactions were realized translating into millions of dollars of new development projects and an array of newly concluded MoUs and cooperation agreements.

For its significant contributions to the development of trade and investments in emerging frontier markets, AIM Congress has received global attention, with leading development organisations confirming their participation in this year’s event, including United National Economic Commission for Europe, (UNECE), United National Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Trade Centre (ITC), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Among those who have already confirmed their attendance include top-level ministers from Burkina Faso, Burundi, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Liberia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mauritania, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Qatar and Yemen; as well as the President of Tatarstan.

Investors from China, Russia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Germany, and the United States will actively be looking for investment opportunities through the various country presentations; while exhibiting countries such as Tatarstan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Yemen, Libya, Ecuador, Gabon, Namibia, Cameroon, Sudan, USA, France, China, Turkey, Poland, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Ghana will further showcase trade and investment opportunities.

The RAK Free Trade Zone and Hamriyah Free Zone will lead a host other important UAE-based organisations who will make a case for investing in emerging markets within the UAE. Regional property giant DAMAC Holding has signed up as the event’s Diamond Sponsor, underscoring the important that the private sector plays in boosting regional trade and investment activities.

The AIM Congress 2013 is scheduled to take place on April 30 to May 2, 2013 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information, please visit www.aimcongress.com.

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Tughreed Adil
Marketing Manager
Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Phone:            + 971 4 3923232
Fax:                + 971 4 3923332
E-mail:            tughreed@strategic.ae
Website:        www.strategic.ae