Sign in
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) formally kicks off in a few hours at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, following “external engagements” that began earlier in the week. The PIF-backed event will see world leaders, policymakers, and industry executives talk finance, banking, economic policy, climate, among other topics. You can check out the agenda (pdf), or you can tune in to the live broadcast here. Here’s what to look for on Day 1:
(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)
Geo-economics panel: Chaired by PIF Governor Yasir Al Rumayyan, the discussions will examine how leaders can create effective economic systems amid changing global dynamics. Key speakers include Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel; BlackRock CEO Larry Fink; Citadel founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin; Alphabet & Google President and CIO Ruth Porat; former Google CEO and Chairman Eric Schmidt; and Blackstone Group Co-Founder and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman.
Banking + investment: This panel will focus on evolving financial strategies in light of the IMF’s forecast of global inflation declining to 4.5% by 2025. Islamic Development Bank Group Chairman Muhammad Al Jasser will lead this panel. Key speakers include Citi CEO Jane Fraser; Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick; Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon; Apollo Global Management Co-Founder and CEO Marc Rowan; and Carlyle CEO Harvey M. Schwartz.
The future of energy: This panel features ACWA Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan, Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser, and EDF Chairman and CEO Luc Rémont, and will focus on clean energy and decarbonization. S&P Global Vice-Chairman Daniel Yergin will moderate.
The policymakers in the house: Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih will discuss fostering growth amid economic challenges at a panel that will look at everything from monetary policy to AI and how these developments play into growth. Key speakers include India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal; Turkey’s Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek; and the UK’s Minister of State for Business and Trade Douglas Alexander.
Looking at the Global South: Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb will be chairing a panel addressing Global South’s role in global growth, featuring Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan.
FROM THE FORUM YESTERDAY-
Al Jadaan talks investment in Africa: Saudi private sector investments in Africa could reach USD 25 bn over the next decade, with USD 5 bn already underway in various projects, Al Eqtisadiah quotes Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan as saying on “Day 0” of the forum. In a separate panel, Al Falih stated that Saudi investments and development aid in Africa have risen to USD 45 bn, spanning multiple countries, it added.
