ABU DHABI: His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and president of AIM Congress, attended the press conference on Monday, at the Emirates News Agency theatre in Abu Dhabi, to announce the partners of the 14th edition of AIM Congress 2025 along with a number of key stakeholders, government officials, ambassadors, international organisation representatives, and local and global media.
AIM Congress will take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, under the theme ‘The New Wave of a Globalized Investment Landscape: Towards a New Balanced World Structure’, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, supported by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Ministry of Investment.
During the press conference, the strategic partners of AIM Congress were announced, and memorandums of understanding were signed to enhance collaborative efforts. AIM Congress provides an ideal platform that brings together leaders, government officials, decision-makers, entrepreneurs, top regional and international investors, and major global companies and organisations across various sectors. This facilitates the exchange of experiences and ideas, stimulates global economic development, and offers the best investment opportunities to the global business community.
His Excellency Al Zeyoudi stated: Thanks to the visionary leadership of our wise leader, which has given, and continues to give, great attention to opening up commercially and investment-wise to the world, strengthening the attractiveness of the business environment, enhancing the country’s connection to global supply chains, developing talent, and advancing industrial and technological capabilities, the UAE continues to maintain its position at the forefront of the most attractive countries for investment, both regionally and globally. It achieved a record growth in foreign direct investment inflows, rising by 35 percent in 2023 to reach AED 112.6 billion, according to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).”
He added that the AIM Congress has become a prominent global platform that brings together investors, policymakers, and business leaders from around the world to exchange insights, ideas, and successful experiences in shaping the future of global investment. He noted that AIM Congress has succeeded in building long-term partnerships with more than 330 institutions from the public and private sectors, as well as international organisations, offering innovative solutions and promising investment opportunities, thus strengthening its position as a leading global event in the investment field. He expressed his anticipation for the outcomes of the AIM Congress 2025 and its new investment projects and partnerships that will drive economic growth and sustainable development.
Dawood Al Shezawi, President of AIM Global Foundation and Chairman of The Organizing Committee, said: “AIM Congress represents an exceptional global platform that brings together thought leaders, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs from around the world to exchange ideas and visions on the future of global investment. This year, we focused on adding new themes that reflect global economic transformations and the priorities of the business community, ensuring a comprehensive and sustainable discussion that meets the aspirations of emerging economies and addresses the challenges and opportunities posed by the changing investment landscape. Our goal is to enhance international cooperation and support innovation in order to achieve a more balanced and prosperous global economic system.”
Al Shezawi added, “AIM Congress is proud of its partnership with a distinguished array of institutions, companies, and organisations from all over the world who share our vision of enhancing economic development and international cooperation. Through these ongoing and renewed partnerships, we will continue our collective efforts to facilitate communication and collaboration among all summit participants. We look forward to continuing this fruitful cooperation, contributing to stimulating growth and economic and investment development between the UAE and countries worldwide, to create a brighter future.”
Memoranda of Understanding:
His Excellency Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, signed memoranda of understanding with partners of the AIM Congress 2025. This included the signing of a memorandum of understanding with The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, represented by His Excellency Saeed Ali Obaid Al Fazari, Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Sector. ADGM, the partner of Future Finance portfolio was represented by Abdulla Al Suwaidi, Chief Support Services Officer. Abu Dhabi Chamber, partner of global trade portfolio was represented by His Excellency Shamis Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri, Second Vice Chairman and managing director. His Excellency Jamal Nasser Al Suwaidi, Acting Executive Director of the News Content Sector at WAM, signed as the official media partner.
Mr. Afif Barhoumi, Investment Promotion Expert, signed on behalf of The Investment Technology Promotion Office (ITPO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – Bahrain. Helmut von Struve, CEO of Siemens in the UAE and Middle East, signed as a partner for the Global Manufacturing portfolio. Joern Siegle, Vice president of FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH, signed as a partner for the future of finance portfolio. Holger Schlechter, CFO of IFZA, Regional Lead for Smart Cities Council in UAE and Fayez Abu Fayez Abu Awad, Policy Director for MENA at the GSMA, signed as partners for the Future Cities portfolio. Bashar Kilani, Founder of AI360 Innovation, and Ilya Churakov, CEO of AI Alliance, signed as partners for the Digital Economy portfolio. Abdul Rahim Al Nuaimi, CEO of Marketing and Communications Department at Abu Dhabi Media, signed as a main media partner while Mazen Singer, Chief Strategy Officer at Nabd, signed as a digital media partner.
AIM Congress 2025 aims to attract more than 25,000 prominent figures from 180 countries around the world, with the participation of 1,500 artificial intelligence companies and 500 startups. The event is expected to feature over 1,000 speakers in more than 350 discussion sessions.
Further, AIM Congress 2025 highlights the collaborative efforts that have enhanced its success for over a decade, through its long-term strategic partnerships with over 330 partners from reputable institutions, companies, and organizations from all over the world. Registration for participation can be made through the link www.aimcongress.com.
Key Topics:
The event will discuss 8 key themes: Foreign Direct Investment, Global Trade, Startups and Unicorns, Future Cities, Future Finance, Global Manufacturing, Digital Economy, and Entrepreneurs.
The organising committee of the event have introduced two new themes on Global Trade and Global Manufacturing due to their growing importance for emerging economies and the changing priorities of the global investment community. This ensures that discussions cover all sectors and the latest trends and developments in the global investment landscape, addressing current and future challenges to stimulate and attract global investments while maintaining sustainability standards and employing advanced technologies, which contributes to a balanced, prosperous, and sustainable global economy.
The themes of AIM Congress 2025 cover various sectors, including smart agriculture, energy, infrastructure, finance and capital markets, information and communication technology, industry, medical tourism, biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, international trade, logistics and transport, water technology, tourism, and education.
The Global Trade theme, under the slogan ‘Digitising the International Trade & the Sustainability and Transparency of Global Supply Chains’, will explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities associated with it, aiming for a comprehensive understanding of the global investment landscape and developing actionable strategies to harness the potential of foreign direct investment and international trade to drive economic growth and attract more investments.
The Global Manufacturing theme, under the slogan ‘From 4.0 to 5.0: Leveraging Industry & Bringing Advanced Factories to Life’, will focus on transforming manufacturing ecosystems, enhancing product innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability, contributing to business resilience, fostering innovation, and creating new economic opportunities, as well as improving the quality of life by providing solutions that meet consumer needs faster and more efficiently.
In line with the global manufacturing market’s projected growth to a value of USD 535.5 billion by 2030, discussions will focus on boosting efficiency, accelerating investments in innovation, and reviving advanced factories.
The Digital Economy theme, under the slogan ‘Embracing Digital Transformation: An ecosystem of interdependent digital technologies for a sustainable and inclusive future’, will highlight the critical role of digital technologies in the global shift toward a digital economy, promoting a sustainable, inclusive, and secure digital future. The digital economy is experiencing significant growth, with the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices expected to increase from 16 billion in 2023 to 39 billion by 2029, enhancing smart city infrastructure and improving connectivity while supporting data-driven decision-making.
Activities and Competitions:
AIM Congress 2025 will organise a variety of events, forums, discussion sessions, workshops, high-level meetings, exhibitions, AIM Investment Awards, the Startup Pitch Competition, Investment forums, AIM Incubator, and AIM Investment Fund.
Roundtable Meetings:
AIM Congress 2025 will host several key roundtable meetings, including a Ministerial Investment RoundTable, Ministerial Tourism Investment RoundTable, Stock Exchanges RoundTable, Central Banks RoundTable, Unicorns RoundTable, and Chambers’ Talks
Global Forums:
AIM Congress 2025 will also host several local, regional, and global events, forums, and conferences addressing key investment opportunities and challenges to promote global economic growth and sustainability. In collaboration with international organisations such as UNCTAD, the World Tourism Organization, WHO, IRENA, UNIDO, and the Global Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, AIM Congress reaffirms its pivotal role in accelerating global economic development and providing an important platform for global investors, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers to explore new opportunities and long-term partnerships to drive economic growth and sustainable development.
The global forums include the World Local Production Forum, UNCTAD, Trade Tech Forum, and investment forums focused on countries like India, Japan, China, Russia, and regional investment dialogues for Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
The third edition of the World Local Production Forum, in collaboration with WHO, will involve more than 5,000 specialists and government officials from 100 countries and major global multinational companies. Since its inception in 2021, the World Local Production Forum has provided a multilateral platform for local production, bringing together policymakers, private sector leaders, and key stakeholders to foster collaboration, forge partnerships, and develop strategies to stimulate high-quality, sustainable local production.
Conference:
The event’s discussions will be led by leaders and experts from the investment community, exploring relevant topics related to the key themes of AIM Congress, providing a comprehensive platform for exploring the latest trends and innovations across various fields. Speakers for 2025 include H.E. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), H.E. Edward David Burt, Premier of Bermuda, Brian Mathew, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Melksham and Devizes, Jamal Saleh, Director General of UAE Bank’s Federation, Sameh El-Sadat, Founder of TBS, Senator at the Egyptian Senate/Investment Professional, Abdulhakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa – FAO, and Francesco La Camera, Director-General – International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Top executives and directors from major global tech companies include Ahmed Riad, Senior Director, Strategy and Industry Development at Huawei, Johnny Ivanyi, Head of Global Logistics Services at Bayer, and Ramez El-Serafy, CEO of Flat6Labs are among others.
