Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The three day 7th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII7) which ended on October 24 saw $17.9 billion in investments across multiple sectors.
FII7 focused on the latest trends in technology and investment, delving into areas such as space and aviation, biotechnology, cybersecurity, robotics, venture capital, and the innovative landscape of startups.
The event’s significance was further reinforced by a special summit dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), where experts in the field explored global AI regulations and the potential of AI to reshape industries and boost productivity.
Key participants in the AI summit included Dr. Eric Daimler, Co-Founder & CEO of Conexus, Michael Kratsios, Managing Director of Scale AI, and Sebastian Kurz, Former Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria. Discussions also featured insights from influential figures like John Curtius, Founder of Cedar Investment Management, Laurence Moroney, Lead AI Advocate at Google, and Rami Qasem, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer of Beyond Limits.
During a session, Goldman Sachs Economics forecasted that global investment in AI could reach $200 billion by 2025.
The event also included a special Global South Carbon Markets session, uniting stakeholders from the Global South to collaborate on shaping internal carbon market frameworks that align with climate goals and support biodiversity conservation, all while advancing global climate justice.
The FII Institute also introduced its Inclusive ESG Tool and Score, a tool designed to enhance the quality of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data in emerging markets. This initiative, developed in partnership with ESG Book, aims to empower companies in emerging markets to enhance their sustainability efforts and identify performance leaders, thereby attracting financial investments.
The event saw the partnership between the Public Investment Fund and Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli, with plans to establish a tire manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia. ACWA Power also signed a financing agreement for a 240 MW wind power project in Azerbaijan, bolstering their renewable energy initiatives.
“Over the past three days we have had world leaders, titans of finance and experts in their field who have not only been discussing, but identifying and agreeing to radical action to improve the investment landscape, boost economies, galvanise support, and ultimately improve the world,” said Richard Attias, CEO of the Future Investment Initiative Institute. “FII is soon to move from the Middle East to the Far East with our FII PRIORITY Summit in Hong Kong on December 7th and 8th and we will be continuing our mission to transform the lives – and futures – of human beings worldwide.”
Also read: FII7 concludes, WAVE launched on Day 3 to boost ocean regeneration
