On 30 June 2020, UNCTAD and the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation jointly organized a webinar on “International investment policies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic”. The online meeting for government officials dealing with investment policies in countries members of the D-8 brought together over 45 participants.

The meeting was opened by H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, and James Zhan, Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD.

UNCTAD presented the key findings of the World Investment Report 2020 with a highlight on the urgent need to reform IIAs in light of COVID-19 pandemic as well as the risk of investor-State disputes (ISDS) related to government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting also shed light on the Joint D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation – UNCTAD Guiding Principles for Investment Policy making, and how they can help provide guidance for investment policymakers, especially in times of crisis.

PROGRAMME

Welcoming remarks

H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation
James Zhan, Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD
Key findings of UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2020

James Zhan, Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD
International Investment Policies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Hamed El-Kady, Investment Policy Officer, UNCTAD
Diana Rosert, Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD
Professor Sufian Jusoh, Director, International Trade and Investment, Institute of Malaysian and International Studies
Syed Quadri, Acting Director, Country Strategy and Cooperation, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
Comments from Nathalie Bernasconi, Executive Director, International Institute on Sustainable Development (IISD), Europe
Remarks by D-8 Government representatives followed by discussion

Source: unctad.org