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The workshops will offer practical guidance on supporting SMEs with financing and local services, empowering youth entrepreneurship, and showcasing Sharjah's diverse investment opportunities in sectors like hospitality and culture. The high-level panels will also explore strategic themes, such as how to build economic resilience and the impact of AI and sustainability on global investment decisions.
Commenting on this year’s agenda, Marwan Alichla, the Coordinator General of the SIF Committee, said: “SIF - WIC 2025 represents a monumental moment for the global investment community, and by convening the world’s foremost thinkers and policymakers in Sharjah, we are actively building the frameworks for a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive global economy. The sessions curated for this forum are designed to translate high-level strategy into actionable insights, empowering every participant to become a contributor of positive transformation.”
As Sharjah continues to outperform many global markets; as demonstrated by the H1 2025 figures showing how the emirate attracted $1.5 billion in FDI and created 2,578 new jobs; the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) will showcase the emirate’s unique position as a global cross-roads in the workshop “Visit Sharjah – The Destination for Investment, Hospitality, Culture & Education”. Participants will gain insights into Sharjah’s diverse investment opportunities, world-class hospitality, rich cultural heritage, and leading educational institutions.
Hosted by members of the Sharjah Youth Council, the workshop titled “Youth Initiatives & Entrepreneurship: From Ideas to Impact” aligns with the UAE’s Entrepreneurial Nation initiative to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs, and will highlight the essential role of youth in shaping the future economy. According to research from Virgin StartUp, over a quarter (26%) of 18–24-year-olds are preparing to start a business in 2025; and this workshop will explore how young leaders can transform ideas into profitable ventures; reflecting a powerful global shift toward youth-led innovation.
The Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (Ruwad) will host a workshop designed to promote a culture of entrepreneurship within the community, and the session titled “Intro to the Services of the Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Projects” will outline the services and incentives Ruwad provides to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Emirate. The workshop aims to inspire and motivate attendees to establish national projects that strengthen local economic indicators across various sectors.
Hosted by the Emirates Growth Fund (EGF), the workshop “Financing Solutions for the Missing Middle – Rising with UAE SMEs” addresses fundamental challenges for the UAE’s economic backbone. With SMEs contributing 63.5% to the non-oil GDP and forecasts predicting 1 million SMEs in the UAE by 2030, the session will highlight innovative financing solutions and collaborative approaches designed to empower ambitious founders and build the next generation of national champions.
NXN, the UAE's National Logistics Network will give a 2 in 1 workshop. The first will introduce NXN as the national logistics network built on four pillars: Send, Receive, Store, and Enable. And will explore how NXN is redefining the logistics landscape of the UAE by modernizing traditional services into smart, connected, and future-ready solutions. From digital PO boxes and dark stores to quick commerce, NXN stands as a truly partner-neutral platform with a single mission: to drive trade, empower people, and shape the future.
NXN will also showcase “Delivering the Future: ‘Waslah’s Role in Seamless Digital Transformation”, which will explore how “Waslah”, NXN’s innovative digital logistics platform, is transforming the way businesses and governments connect, deliver, and operate. Participants will gain insights into how ‘Waslah’ integrates advanced technologies to enable smarter delivery networks, enhance customer experience, and drive efficiency across the UAE’s evolving digital ecosystem.
A high-level panel titled “Future-Proofing Economies — From Risk to Resilience” will examine how economies can strengthen resilience through sustainable investment, diversification, and innovation. According to BCG, businesses that invest in resilience can reduce financial losses and operational costs by up to 30% during crises; a principle that holds true for national economies. Featuring H.E. Fahad Al Gergawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade in the UAE, H.E. Zaher Al Qatarneh, Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment of Jordan, Ms. ZHOU Xiaoyan, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of China Council for International Investment Promotion, and Mrs. Taliya Minullina, CEO of Tatarstan Investment Development agency, the session will discuss how proactive policies can turn global challenges into opportunities.
The discussion, “The Impact of AI and Sustainability on Investment Decisions,” will examine how AI-driven analytics and ESG priorities are transforming global investment strategies. With corporate AI investment reaching $252.3 billion in 2024 (Stanford AI Index 2025) and PwC research showing AI could boost global GDP by up to 14% by 2030, the session will cover how data intelligence is reshaping risk assessment and capital allocation. The conversation, featuringProf. Djordjija Petkoski, Senior Fellow at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and the founder and managing director of Global CDL; Nauman Asif Mian, CFO - Bayt.com; and Dr. Henry Loewendahl, Chief Executive Officer, Wavteq, who will shed light on how technology and sustainability are redefining global competitiveness.
In total, SIF x WIC 2025, will feature more than 160 activities and 120 business meetings, creating an integrated platform for deal-making and strategy development. Under the theme “Transforming Our World: Investing for a Resilient and Sustainable Future,” the global event is expected to welcome over 10,000 participants representing 142 countries from October 22–23, 2025, at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre.
Organised by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) in partnership with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the UAE Ministry of Investment, this anticipated event will feature a series of key workshops and panel discussions, equipping attendees with the insights and tools to face the evolving global investment market head on.
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