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 forInvestment Policymaking, 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