International investment conference opens in Saudi Arabia

By Amer Solyman and Betul Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – An international investment and business conference kicked off on Monday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, local media reported.

The 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) opened at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh under the theme “The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth,” the state news agency SPA said.

The 4-day event is expected to draw over 8,000 participants and 650 prominent speakers across 250 dialogue sessions.

Several investors, senior executives, and prominent political figures, including heads of state, will engage in high-level discussions on various issues such as the impact of AI and robotics on productivity, wealth creation amid growing inequality, and strategies for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will also participate and deliver a keynote speech at the conference on Tuesday, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The Future Investment Initiative is an international platform that brings business leaders, investors, decision-makers, and government agencies together to explore major investment opportunities and discuss the future of the global economy and emerging technologies.

The conference is held annually in Riyadh with wide participation from international institutions and multinational companies as part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to attract foreign investments and diversify the economy away from oil under the kingdom’s "Vision 2030" program.