The UNCTAD has disclosed details of its upcoming 9th World Investment Forum (WIF), which will occur in Doha, Qatar, in 2026. It will be the first of its kind since the investment dialogue has become crucial in the context of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Risks Report, 2021. The gatherings, including heads of state, policymakers, corporate executives, and members of civil society, will seek answers to the most fundamental problems at the intersections of global investments and sustainable development. The forum will last for 6 working days, from 3 to 8 October 2026.
The selection of Qatar to head the forum reflects the growing importance of the country
The Theme of the Forum, as per UNCTAD, will be to discuss Countering Fragmentation of a Global Economy due to geopolitical conflicts, disruption of global supply chains, and uneven regulations, which will add to the Global Economic Fragmentation.
In turn, the absence of investments will further complicate the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Owing to Qatar’s investment in international partnerships and its central geographic placement in the Middle East, Qatar offers the greatest potential to conduct economic bridging of developed and developing markets.
Aims of the World Investment Forum (WIF)
As with other global investment forums, the WIF 2026 will seek to:
- Discuss investment gaps: It has been noted by UNCTAD that developing economies will continue to experience a huge deficit in investment needed to attain the SDG goals. WIF aims to identify strategies that address the gap with the appropriate sustainable financing for public and/or private investments.
- Advocate for and the location of investments in green and digital economies: With economies undergoing technology and climate-driven transformations, investments aimed at digital infrastructure and ecosystem, green technologies, and renewable energy will be a focus of the WIF.
- Facilitate collaboration in the investment: In the current global economic climate, the WIF seeks to highlight the value of international investment agreements and other forms of collaboration that provide for a stable and predictable economic environment.
The WIF will be providing a high-level review of:
- The alteration of investment policy to address the new geopolitical environment.
- The interrelation of sustainable development and financing, notably impact financing, and blended finance.
- The conduct of business that is responsible, and the principles of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).
Global economic fragmentation, which includes trade barriers, a structure of competing technology standards, and a supply chain that is likely to become more regionalized, is a major threat to the world economy.
The 2026 forum will build on the outcomes of previous editions
According to the UNCTAD report, economic fragmentation will reduce foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and increase the technology gap of poorer nations while also increasing world poverty. The forum will address how to sustain investment in FDI, technology, and benefits to poorer nations and global poverty while maintaining the right of nations to protect their borders.
The World Investment Forum 2023 will contribute to the implementation of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 with its emphasis on economic diversification and sustainable development objectives. With the participation of world leaders, Qatar will once more be able to demonstrate its role as a constructor of dialogue and innovation to address common world problems.
The forum will build on the outcomes of previous editions, which have shaped global investment policy and advanced initiatives, including the Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development. The Doha forum will, in these times of uncertainty, be a vital means for restating the cooperation and inclusivity that economic prosperity requires. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines the global community’s commitment to a balanced development path that meets the challenges of the 21st century and development that considers the needs of future generations.
