The 8th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference kicked off in Riyadh on Tuesday under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Held under the theme "Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow", the conference aims to contribute to driving future development and growth.
FII Institute CEO Richard Attias welcomed attendees and expressed gratitude to Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his visionary leadership.
Attias highlighted the success of previous FII conferences and expressed optimism about the impact the 8th edition will have on building a better future.
Governor of the Public Investment Fund, Chairman of Saudi Aramco, and Chairman of the FII Institute Yasir Al-Rumayyan emphasized the conference's role as a catalyst for action, progress, and solutions. He noted that the initiative has facilitated deals worth over $125 billion.
Al-Rumayyan underscored the FII Priority Index, launched this week, which highlights pressing global issues such as economic instability, rising living costs, healthcare disparities, social inequality, and political tensions, "all of which stretch across borders".
This year's conference theme hints to the pursuit of endless investment opportunities and future-shaping initiatives, and that the focus is on sustainable long-term investments that address global challenges, foster innovation, and deliver lasting impact, he added.
Priority sectors include next-generation green technologies, healthcare innovations, and youth engagement through sports.
"Economic, social, and environmental outcomes are interconnected, and these must be at the core of our decision making. Our world is rich in untapped potential. Emerging markets are examples of how long-term investments can ignite growth," Al-Rumayyan said.
"It is projected that the growth of emerging markets' economies will outpace developed markets' economies. This underscores the need for strategic investments in places that will drive tomorrow's global economy," he went on to say.
He underlined the Kingdom's unique resources and strategic geographic location, which have attracted investments in critical areas such as energy, infrastructure, and technology, and highlighted the potential of AI to add $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030, transforming industries, boosting productivity, and addressing critical challenges.
Al-Rumayyan underscored the importance of AI, stating that by 2027, "AI's role as an economic driver will become a benchmark of national power", capable of solving problems, driving productivity, and impacting sectors ranging from healthcare to energy.
He emphasized the transformative power of the energy sector, noting that major energy players have invested over $65 billion in low-carbon technologies since 2017.
He stressed the importance of long-term investment in ensuring a fair energy transition that balances current energy needs with a sustainable future.
"Our goal is not just to fuel economies but to empower a future where energy sustains progress and wealth for generations to come," he said.
Al-Rumayyan highlighted the FII Institute's commitment to inclusivity, hoping that the discussions at the 8th edition of the conference would influence and have an impact, setting a new standard that drives both financial returns and human progress.
By transforming today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities, the conference aims to build a vibrant future for the global economy and humanity as a whole, he said.
