WAIPA President Fahad Al Gergawi, Executive Director Bostjan Skalar, Deputy Executive Director Ismail Ersahin held a number of meetings in Geneva from 27 to 28 January 2020 with:

  • Executive Director of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), Ratnakar Adhikari. The recently launched WAIPA EIF project on Capacity Building for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on investment promotion was discussed. Officials agreed that IPAs from LDCs need to be strengthened and this joint two-year effort aims to improve the capacities of investment and trade professionals in LDCs and to enhance their skills and cooperation.
  • Director General of the World Trade Organization, Roberto Azevedo. Ongoing cooperation and projects, particularly regarding investment facilitation for development was the key topic of the discussion. WAIPA and WTO agreed to collaborate together to improve the capacities and skills of IPAs, EIF National Implementation Units (NIUs) and government officials in LDCs. This includes abilities with investment promotion and facilitation, leveraging investments in priority trade sectors, improving coordination of IPAs in LDCs via regional and global networking coordination, as well as advocacy.
  • Director General of the International Labour Organization, Guy Ryder. Building on WAIPA and ILOs continuous collaboration, the 5th WAIPA-ILO training will be jointly executed particulartly on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This training will help IPAs to strenghten their investment promotion and facilitation capacities, expand their after-care services and to enhance the development impacts of FDI, particularly as regards the creation of more and better jobs. WAIPA-ILO training is open for registration to WAIPA members whıch may register here: https://demo.waipa.org/event/5th-waipa-ilo-training-course/
  • UNCTAD’s Director of the Investment and Enterprise Division and Position & Chief Strategic Adviser of WAIPA, James Zhan. There was an exchange of ideas on joining forces this year and to effectively use synegies which will be announced in the near future.