Investment Policy Forum

IISD hosts the annual Investment Policy Forum, the world's only yearly assembly on investment negotiation and reform exclusively for officials from developing countries. The IISD Investment Policy Forum leads the way on sustainable investment reform from the bottom up, driven by our global community of investment policy-makers from emerging economies.

The 15th edition of the IISD Investment Policy Forum will take place in Panama City, Panama, on October 25-27, 2023.

The IISD Investment Policy Forum was launched in Singapore in 2007 to tackle the unique challenges facing officials from emerging economies working on investment. It has since evolved into an annual event and an indispensable network of developing country officials working on investment issues.

Through the sharing of experiences and best practices, and the discussion of emerging issues, the network helps to create systemic reform advancing sustainable development in emerging economies across the world.

The core goal of the event is to ensure that participating countries are able to attract responsible investment that advances sustainable development while safeguarding their legitimate policy space. Between events, the community also remains engaged through IISD's Investment Policy Network, regional meetings, and peer-to-peer exchanges.

With the complexity of the challenges facing governments worldwide - such as the climate crisis - many international investment reform processes coming to an end, and a growing number of countries launching national investment reforms, now more than ever policymakers need a space to build coalitions and engage in peer-to-peer exchange. The IISD Investment Policy Forum is that space.

14th Annual Forum, October 2022

The 14th Annual Forum took place in Abuja, Nigeria, in October 2022. The theme of the event was “Coherence in International Investment: Governance, Crafting a Holistic Approach to Investments that Work for Sustainable Development.” Find all the information on the 14th Forum here, and the report summarizing the Forum here. 

The Abuja Forum was also complemented by a High-Level Preparatory Launch Event in September, 2021. 

Co-organizers and Partner Organizations

As the Annual Forum organizer, IISD has partnered with international and regional organizations that have been regularly represented at the meetings:

• South Centre
• Commonwealth Secretariat
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 
• West African Economic and Monetary Union 
• Caribbean Community
• Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa 
• Southern African Development Community 
• Pacific Islands Forum, Office of the Chief Trade Adviser
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 

Testimonials

Find out more about the Annual Forum and hear what participants, including Ambassador Xavier Carim of South Africa, have to say about the value of attending.