The upcoming seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), under the slogan “The New Compass,” is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, 24 October in Riyadh. This prominent event will witness the participation and attendance of world leaders, leading industrial companies, investors, innovators, and policymakers.
Over 5,000 individuals from 90 countries have registered to participate in the forum, which will feature over 500 speakers. Despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the preparations for the forum remain unaffected.
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The seventh edition of FII, often referred to as the “Davos in the Desert,” focuses on tackling global challenges related to climate, economy, and technology.
The initiative holds significant importance as it provides a platform to discuss a wide range of topics, including the macroeconomic challenges faced by societies. This year’s conference will specifically delve into key global issues such as climate change, the role of governments, and the transformative potential of technology, education, and healthcare. These discussions aim to contribute towards creating a more equitable, secure, and prosperous world.
The Forum aims is to enhance global cooperation and engage in discussions regarding the evolving dynamics of power and influence. It underscores the importance of international collaboration in tackling urgent challenges.
Influential personalities
The opening ceremony witnessed the participation of notable and influential personalities, such as Yasir Al Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and chair of the board of trustees of the FII Institute. Additionally, esteemed individuals including Ajay Panga, the president of the World Bank, David Rubenstein, the chairman of the Carlyle Group, Ray Dalio from Bridgewater Associates, Jamie Dimon from J.P. Morgan, Larry Fink from BlackRock, Jane Fraser from Citigroup, and Dr. Patrice Motsepe from African Rainbow Minerals were also in attendance.
Noel Quinn, CEO of HSBC Holdings; Neil Shen from Sequoia Capital; David Solomon of Goldman Sachs; Shemara Wikramanayake from Macquarie Group; Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries; and Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered.
Global technology leaders, including founders, CEOs, venture capitalists, and investors, will come together to examine how accelerated progress can be leveraged for the benefit of the world.
Variety of topics
The dialogue sessions will cover a wide range of topics including artificial intelligence (AI), space exploration, clean technology, health technology, electric vehicles (EVs), robotics, biotechnology, sustainability, virtual world realms, e-sports, technology in Africa, nano applications, food technology, and the development of smart cities.
Al Rumayyan expressed, “Our world, the global economy, and society confront an array of formidable obstacles, encompassing stability, worldwide economic expansion, environmental concerns, and the rapid advancement of transformative technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, education, and healthcare.”
Richard Attias, the CEO of the Future Investment Initiative, stressed the significant role of this year’s conference as a “compass for nations to identify a fresh global nucleus that reexamines its investment patterns.” He highlighted that the initiative will focus on “prioritizing the well-being and needs of individuals, which must be considered in the formulation of strategies.”
Global carbon conference
During the FII conference, the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market company organizes the Global South Carbon Markets Conference, aiming to establish a set of pre-COP 28 measures and commitments.
The Regional Voluntary Carbon Market has announced its hosting of the Global South Carbon Markets Conference – Riyadh Edition. The event aims to address the significant challenges in promoting voluntary carbon markets worldwide for carbon reduction efforts. Organized in collaboration with S&P Global Commodity Insights, the conference will feature speakers from emerging economies across the globe and various global financial institutions. The agenda will encompass discussions on enhancing carbon trading, the role of carbon markets in driving climate action, and the importance of preserving the carbon stocks of the global South. Additionally, the event will focus on gathering local perspectives on carbon markets, regulatory mechanisms for risk mitigation, and supporting the expansion of global carbon markets. It will also explore the role of Islamic finance in the development of these markets and the desired outcomes of COP 28 as envisioned by global South countries.
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