Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2019
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2019 was the third edition of the annual Saudi economic conference 'Future Investment Initiative' held in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. The event was organized by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to discuss global investment environment trends and explore upcoming investment opportunities. It opened on October 29, 2019, and lasted three days, hosting several local and international investors, experts, and decision-makers.
The FII 2019 addressed the future of the global economy under the theme 'What is Next for Global Business?' where participants discussed potential trajectories to enhance global economic growth over the next ten years.
FII 2019 sessions
The sessions of the FII 2019 addressed the changes brought about by technology in the global economy. In a session titled 'Perspectives from the United States of America and Europe,' speakers discussed the role of the PIF in Saudi Arabia in attracting impactful investments in several sectors, such as renewable energy, healthcare, and housing, as these investments contribute to achieving economic security.
Speakers at the initiative also touched on various factors expected to influence the global economy over the next ten years, including artificial intelligence, climate change, the challenges of corporate governance due to public opinion pressure, and ways to adapt to these factors.
The session titled 'Perspectives from the Middle East and Asia' discussed Saudi Arabia’s role in creating jobs that contribute to gross domestic product (GDP) growth and in promoting economic drivers that benefit society and support national development goals.
Closing of the FII 2019
FII 2019 concluded after three days, during which world leaders, officials, and stakeholders in the investment sector gathered and engaged in open dialogues on ways to advance the economy and society. The closing emphasized the importance of communication and innovation for the future.
FII
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) was launched in 2017, when it was inaugurated by Crown Prince, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and Chairman of the PIF board, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz. The initiative was referred to in the media as 'Davos in the Desert.' The inaugural edition brought together more than 2,500 leading and influential figures from the business world, representing over sixty countries around the globe.
The first edition also witnessed the launch of the NEOM project, 'The City of the Future,' which at the time served as a milestone that attracted economists and policymakers to discuss, promote, and explore investment interests.