Unctad sets World Investment Forum 2026 agenda around strategic capital flows

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World Investment Forum 2026 agenda

Highlights

UNCTAD's World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha, 25–27 October, centers on leveraging capital for sustainable, resilient economic growth in diverse economies.
Investment in strategic sectors such as AI, semiconductors, critical minerals, and clean energy rose to nearly 50% of new project value, up from 16% in 2020.
Low- and lower-middle-income economies captured only 10% of global greenfield investment in strategic sectors (2020–2025), prompting forum focus on closing this gap and supporting energy security.

Doha forum targets future investment priorities

As reported by UN Trade and Development, the World Investment Forum 2026 takes place in Doha from 25 to 27 October and is organized in partnership with the State of Qatar under the theme “Investing in the future”. The event brings together governments, investors, business leaders and international organizations to examine how capital can better support sustainable and resilient growth across a wider range of economies.

UNCTAD says shifts in global investment are reshaping value creation, supply chains and development prospects. Its latest World Investment Report shows that investment in strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals and clean energy, now accounts for almost half the value of new investment projects, up from 16% in 2020.

Development gap shapes policy discussion

Despite that expansion, many developing economies remain weakly connected to the new wave of investment opportunities. Low-income and lower-middle-income economies attract only about 10% of global greenfield investment in strategic sectors between 2020 and 2025, highlighting the imbalance the forum aims to address.

Energy security is set to be a central topic, with one session examining how public and private finance can work together to fund energy system transformation while preserving reliable and affordable supply. The agenda also gives prominence to critical minerals, with discussions focused on transparent, diversified and sustainable value chains that extend beyond raw material extraction.

The forum also explores how investment can make artificial intelligence a driver of inclusive growth. A thematic track on AI is expected to examine the infrastructure, skills, standards and international cooperation needed to ensure the technology narrows, rather than widens, development gaps.

In our earlier article on Glencore’s plan to create a U.S. strategic critical minerals reserve, we explained how a $500 million commitment from the Export-Import Bank of the United States would support stockpiling efforts to reduce future supply disruptions. We also outlined how the VaultCo public-private partnership is designed to strengthen mineral supply chains for manufacturing, energy and technology, underscoring the growing policy focus on critical inputs as strategic assets.

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