MDX Supports the UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2023 as Official Local Academic Partner

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum 2023, one of most prestigious UN events, took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE from 16 to 20 October 2023, and Middlesex University Dubai was honoured to be part of the occasion as an official Local Academic Partner.  

The UNCTAD World Investment Forum is a high-level forum focusing on the theme of “Investing in Sustainable Development,” and addressed key investment challenges caused by today’s multiple global crises. Since the first WIF in 2008, the forum has become the largest global platform for high-level dialogue and action on investment for development. As ever, this year the event consisted of insightful events focusing on innovative solutions to global investment-for-development challenges. 

The forum saw a global gathering of 3,000 investment stakeholders for a solid week of deliberations, workshops, panels, and discussions taking place simultaneously. The World Investment Forum featured almost 150 high-profile events, in partnership with prestigious international institutions such as the World Bank Group, top academic institutions, government entities and various UN organisations.

Middlesex University Dubai played a pivotal role in supporting the UNCTAD World Investment Forum. A team of academics from the University shared their expertise through thought-provoking panel discussions to stimulate dialogue on pressing global issues related to sustainable investments, financial regulation, and emerging market opportunities. They discussed pertinent issues of investment strategies and their impact on the environment and issues of alignment with the Paris Agreement, using the UAE as a role model for a successful case study. 

Middlesex University Dubai’s academics led or participated in the below sessions:

Alignment of Investment in Sustainable Infrastructure with the Paris Agreement: Private Sector Experiences from the UAE

This panel discussion provided a mapping exercise addressing each of the challenges including technological gaps, access to funding, policy limitations and governance concerns, and took a dive into the UAE as a standout example, showcasing how the country has overcome its own obstacles in their Net Zero by 2050 initiative. This panel was moderated by Mahine Rizvi Ahmad, MDX Senior Lecturer in Law and Politics, and one of the panellists was Yasmin Sebah, MDX Senior Lecturer in Law.

Academic Track Session II - International Business: International Business Policy for Sustainable Growth 

Middlesex University Dubai’s Head of the Institute of Sustainability, Andrew Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer in Business, was a panellist. They discussed how the global efforts to rapidly mitigate climate change call for directing capital towards environmentally responsible projects, and how we must find the right balance between decarbonisation goals and ensuring energy security.  The panel also covered topics such as low-carbon and non-carbon technologies, carbon reduction technologies, carbon capture, and storage technologies.

Academic Track Session III - International Economics and Development: Investing in Sustainable Development

This panel focused on issues around trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) and how it significantly contributes to the economic development of receiving countries, and how FDI-related technological transfers help address climate and environmental issues. The panellist looked at issues such as if FDI-related technological transfers can help address climate and environmental issues, and if absorption capacities and the efforts of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPA) matter in determining the impact of FDI in the receiving economy. One of the panellists was Yasmin Sebah.

Fireside Chat – COP28: The Role of UAE Businesses in Shaping the Climate Narrative

Sreejith Balasubramanian, Associate Professor, Chair of the Office of Research and Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Excellence at Middlesex University Dubai held an informative discussion with Adèle Guidot, Programme Leader at UN Global Compact Network UAE. This discussion focused on the pivotal role businesses play in shaping climate policies and action narratives, particularly in the context of the UAE.

Academic Track Closing Session

The Academic Track of the Forum was closed by Professor Cedwyn Fernandes, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director at Middlesex University Dubai who stressed the need to recognise lessons learned from successful Global South countries, as well as highlighted the key factors for strengthening supply chain resilience and the UAE’s key role thanks to its location advantage and logistics infrastructure.

Ahead of the Forum, the University coordinated over 130 student volunteers across different programmes, who became the University's ambassadors, embodying its commitment to experiential learning and community engagement. Their role was indispensable, as they took on various responsibilities from ensuring the smooth operation of panel discussions to providing logistical support throughout the running of the Forum. By actively participating in this Forum, the students gained hands-on exposure to the intricacies of global trade and development issues and invaluable insights into the real-world applications of their academic knowledge to help bridge the gap between academia and the job market. 

Our university’s participation in the UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2023 was a testament to its mission to foster academic excellence and lead the charge in sustainable practices. It marked a convergence of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ideas on a platform where academia intersected with current world issues on trade and sustainable development.