Investment Promotion Policies& FDI Trends Workshop

Under the high patronage of H.E. Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation (MIIC) is organizingthe fourth edition of Africa 2019: Investment forAfrica Forumon the 22nd and 23rd of November 2019 at the New Administrative Capital.

Africa 2019: Investment forAfrica Forumconfirms Egypt’s commitment to the African Development Agenda 2063, whichaims at leveraging our capacities and expertise to realize tangible development results; achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth;and boost shared prosperity with the ultimate objective of meeting the aspirations of the African people.

As Egypt presides over the African Union in 2019,President Al-Sisi’s grand vision for Africa emphasizes on the urgency of showcasing Africa prominently on the global investment map; strengthening the frameworks of multilateral cooperation; and engaging private sector actors into Africa’sinclusive and sustainable development.Significant efforts are thus underway towards developing infrastructure, promoting renewable energy, accelerating digital transformation, improving transportation, modernizing industries and investing in human capital.

INVESTMENT PROMOTION POLICIES & FDI TRENDS WORKSHOP IN BRIEF

TheMinistry of Investment and international co-operation will organize and host a two-day intensive workshop prior to the Form Entitled “Investment Promotion Policies & FDI Trends Workshop” onNovember 20th and 21st, 2019.

The workshop will be the ideal platform for decision-makers and IPAs officialsto interact,exchange experiences, and to present with a better understanding of the opportunities present in Africa.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES:

The primary objective of the workshop is to discuss FDI trends in Africa, looking at what types of FDI are optimum for the hosting country, benefits offered by FDI and how to be maximized. In achieving this objective, the workshop aims to:

  • How to improve investor prospecting and agency’s performance through digitalization.
  • The status of Entrepreneurship worldwide and specifically in Africa, growing importance of investment facilitation measures for sustainable development
  • What are International investment Agreements (IIAs) and Why They Matter
  • Investment promotion strategies, policies and practices for sustainable development.
WORKSHOP EXPECTED ATTENDEES:

The workshop will bring together Ministries and Investment Promotion Agencies from the African union countries to share knowledge and showcase their success stories; and discuss improving the targeting mechanism of investment promotion strategies to harness FDI potential.

KNOWLEDGEPARTNERS:

The workshop main themes will be covered through sessions taking place with renowned speakers from United Nations Conference on Trade and Development “UNCTAD” and The Netherlands Development Finance Company “FMO”

UNCTAD :

is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues that support developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively,and helping them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration,providing analysis, facilitating consensus-building, and offering technical assistance. Which helps them to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.

FMO:

is the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. Founded in 1970, FMO supports sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging markets by investing in ambitious entrepreneurs. FMO believes a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. It focuses on three sectors that have high development impact: financial institutions, energy, and agribusiness, food & water.

Agenda

Wednesday ,November 20

08:30 – 09:00

Registration

09:00 – 09:30

Introductions of workshop participants and workshop agenda Welcome Note by,

  • Dr. Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation
  • Ola El Kobrosy, Vice Executive Director,GAFI, Egypt
  • Hamed El-Kady, International Investment Policy Officer, UNCTAD
09:30 – 10:45

FDI trends in AfricaThis session will examine the role of an Investment Promotion Agency (IPA), looking at what types of FDI are optimum for the hosting country, the benefits offered by FDI, how these benefits can be maximized, and the strategies, polices, and operations that are most conducive to attracting investment.

  • Trends in Global and Regional FDI Flows
  • Issues and Challenges in Attracting FDI in Africa
  • The Way Forward: Solutions and Initiatives to enhance the role of FDI in achieving the development in the African Countries.
  • Hamed El-Kady, International Investment Policy Officer, UNCTAD
10:45 – 11:00

Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:30

Digitalization: Where are the opportunities? This session will give an overview on how to improve investor prospecting and agency’s performance through digitalization.

  • The digital economy is a key driver of growth and development. It can provide a boost to competitiveness across all sectors, new opportunities for business.
  • Case study: Egypt investment map
  • Jason Munyan, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD
  • Menna Amer,Ministry of Investment & International Cooperation, Egypt
12:30 – 13:00

Coffee break

13:00 – 14:00

Global entrepreneurship and innovation trends
The session will discuss the status of Entrepreneurship worldwide and specifically in Africa today, in addition to the arising and ongoing trends in the startup arena and elaborate on policies towards strengthening the role of entrepreneurship for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

  • The different models and approaches to supporting and investing in youth entrepreneurship
  • Why this is a critical way to cultivate and support youth entrepreneurs and promote wide scale job growth across Africa
  • Overview on best performing global and African startups
  • Jeroen Harteveld, Public Investment Manager, FMO
14:00 – 15:00

Lunch

15:00 – 16:00

Investment Facilitation: A practical Perspective
This session will discuss the growing importance of investment facilitation measures for sustainable development, including UNCTAD’s Global Action Menu for Investment Facilitation.

  • - Jason Munyan, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD

Thursday ,November 21

09:00 – 11:00

International investment Agreements (IIAs): What They Are and Why They Matter
This session will discuss how and why IIAs (including FTAs with investment chapter) should be reformed and modernized to be more conducive to sustainable development objectives and coherent with national investment regulations and promotion strategies.

  • The key elements found in traditional IIAs
  • The key elements of “new generation” IIAs
  • The need to reform outdated IIAs in line with national development strategies for sustainable development
  • The recent developments regarding regional IIAs in Africa
  • Hamed El-Kady, International Investment Policy Officer, UNCTAD
11:00 – 11:45

Coffee Break

11:45 – 13:00

Investment promotion strategies, policies and practices for sustainable development
The session will discuss howcountriescan enhance overall economic development through a clear investment promotion strategy.

  • Why develop an investment promotion strategy?
  • Investment promotion Strategy, a step change in investment promotion
  • Implementing the strategy and measuring success
  • Jason Munyan, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD
13:00 – 14:00

Talking Business This session will provide a platform to showcase “Best Practices in Investment for Development” Moderator: Hamed El-Kady, International Investment Policy Officer, UNCTAD

14:00 – 15:00

Lunch