Dubai Crown Prince launches ‘Hamdan Centre for the Future of Investment’

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, has announced the launch of the ‘Hamdan Centre for the Future of Investment’ (HCFI), a global initiative that aims to promote the contribution of foreign direct investment (FDI) to sustainable development.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed stressed that the initiative reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is in line with the UAE’s vision to become a global centre for thought leadership, strategic foresight and partnership. The Centre aims to contribute towards shaping the future of investment and its impact on prosperity.

The Crown Prince further said: "Introducing, a first-of-its-kind, integrated framework to develop ‘Impact FDI’ standards and projects will further enhance Dubai’s unique advantages as a globally recognised and preferred FDI destination." He pointed out that transforming the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into economic, social and environmental realities will create exceptional opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs worldwide. Hamdan bin Mohammed also called for the integration of global efforts to accelerate the development and financing of SDGs-oriented projects towards attracting private sector investments. "Transforming the challenges facing ‘Impact FDI’ into opportunities requires effective global, regional and local partnerships," he concluded.

The ‘Hamdan Centre for the Future of Investment’ operates under the umbrella of Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of Dubai Economy. HCFI aims to present a global partnership model that reinforces Dubai's leadership in providing a thriving investment ecosystem that keeps pace with global shifts towards sustainable investment and new forms of investment (NFIs).

To this end, Dubai FDI is building a value network of national, regional and international professionals, strategic partnerships with the local and international investor communities and cooperation platforms with regional and international organisations, financial institutions and research centres.

The launch of the Centre is in line with Dubai's strategy and future vision in developing programmes and initiatives that will enable the emirate to remain globally competitive and attract innovative investment models, especially in technologies that drive Smart Cities, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Block Chain applications. To remain competitive and move to the next level of growth, cities should adapt to the changes worldwide and create new investment opportunities.

Three main programmes HCFI will commence its activities with three main programmes under the ‘Impact FDI’ theme. The first of this is the ‘Impact FDI Thought Leadership and Strategic Foresight Programme,’ which aims to establish new terms of reference that differentiate the ‘Impact FDI’ framework and its role in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future. The second features the ‘Impact FDI Partnership Programme,’ which aims to establish local, regional and global partnerships to promote greater private sector contributions to achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate direct capital flows into SDGs-oriented FDI projects. The third is the ‘Impact FDI Index Programme,’ which aims to provide data analytics and evaluation tools to measure the economic, social and environmental impact of ‘Impact FDI’ projects.

The three programmes reflect how HCFI will turn its vision into practical data and analytical tools that support decision-making and facilitate the investment process. Moreover, HCFI will also provide a number of services through knowledge platforms, to establish Dubai and the UAE as a centre of excellence in the research and development of ‘Impact FDI’ projects and the role of FDI in achieving economic diversification, resilience, and sustainability in a post-oil era.

Dubai Investment Week The main programmes of HCFI will be announced at the ‘Sustainable Investment Forum’ to be held on Tuesday, 17 October as part of the ‘Dubai Investment Week,’ held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and in the presence of a number of strategic partners, experts and stakeholders. The Forum includes a keynote panel on regional and local initiatives supporting SDG integration into corporate and business strategies and practices as well as a roundtable on attracting ‘Impact FDI’.