The Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2019closed today following a successful third day in Riyadh. Over the three days,global leaders and policy makers came together in keynotes, open conversationsand plenary summits to explore how, as we race toward a hyper-connected future,societies and economies can evolve to become more equitable and human-centered.
The event concluded with full house watching a special session looking ahead to the future of economic diplomacy and the G20. As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the next G20, HE Dr. Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of State, KSA, joined a series of former G20 leaders – David Cameron, Former Prime Minister, UK, François Fillon, Former Prime Minister, France, Matteo Renzi, Former Prime Minister, Italy, Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister, Australia, to discuss the G20 and its ability to adapt to the forces of change driving widespread transformations to the global economy.
Advising the Kingdom on how to set a successfulagenda for 2020, David Cameron said "my advice looking at the opportunitiesSaudi Arabia has at chairing the G20 is to think hard about the issues you wantto promote that will make a real difference". Kevin Rudd argued that "therenewable energy revolution is huge" and advised those who live in carbonintensive economies to see "the renewable energy future as a massiveopportunity."
Summits on the final day of FII 2019 focused oninclusive finance, the long-term value of investing in female-led businessesand the new frameworks that can support social cohesion during a time offast-paced social transformation. The conference's rich agenda reflected how,both collectively and individually, the community of FII delegates, speakersand partners are able to affect enormous change for good in the world.
Demonstrating the Kingdom's commitment to beingat the forefront of new frontier technologies, the conference featuredcutting-edge robots, virtual reality displays and facial recognition software.The conference also featured a pavilion for the FII Institute, powered by thePublic Investment Initiative (PIF), to complement the annual FII conferencethrough a number of initiatives. The FII Institute will serve as an importantknowledge platform for the global investor community, enabling the sharing ofideas and expertise, and the development of innovative solutions that drive thefuture of investment and economic value creation.
FII 2019 attracted high calibre guests andspeakers from across the Arab World, Africa, North America and Europe,including heads of state His Majesty King Abdullah II, Jordan, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, India, President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil, Steven Mnuchin,Secretary of the Treasury, USA, Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy, USA, JaredKushner, Senior Advisor to the White House USA, HE Muhammadu Buhari, Presidentof Nigeria, HE Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger, HE Uhuru Kenyatta,President of Kenya and business leaders Masayoshi Son, Founder & CEO,SoftBank, Patrice Caine, Chairman & CEO, Thales Group, France, John Pagano,CEO, The Red Sea Development Company, Larry Fink, Founder Chairman & CEO,BlackRock, Noel Quinn, Group Chief Executive, HSBC Holdings plc, Stephen A.Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO, & Co-founder, The Blackstone Group L.P., TidjaneThiam, CEO, Credit Suisse Group AG.
At the conference, the Saudi Arabian GeneralInvestment Authority (SAGIA) announced 23 new foreign investment deals worth$15 billion. Coordinated under Invest Saudi, these agreements reflect theenormous potential that Saudi Arabia offers to investors from across theKingdom and around the world.
The speakers at FII 2019 include nearly 300leading global decision makers, investors and experts from more than 30countries. The speakers demonstrate FII's global perspective, with significantnumbers coming from North America (39%), Europe (20%), Asia (19%) and theMiddle East (15%). More than 6,000 attendees have also registered theirparticipation at the event.
FII was created to drive conversation andcollaboration around some of the most pressing topics currently facing theworld today – including sustainability, technology and the future of society.FII is dedicated to providing a truly inclusive platform that facilitates freeand creative dialogue between policymakers, business leaders, investors,innovators and world-leaders.
For more information about the FII 2019 programand speakers, please visit the FII website
