BAHRAIN, INDIA, LESOTHO, AND SOUTH AFRICA WIN 2018 UNITED NATIONS INVESTMENT PROMOTION AWARDS

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October 23, 2018

BAHRAIN, INDIA, LESOTHO, AND SOUTH AFRICA WIN 2018 UNITED NATIONS INVESTMENT PROMOTION AWARDS

UNCTAD, Geneva

Photo: Dushyant Thakor, Vice President, Invest India, at the Investment Promotion Workshop, World Investment Forum 2018, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. 22 October 2018. UNCTAD photo by Violaine Martin.

Geneva,22 October 2018 - Agencies from Bahrain, India, Lesotho, and South Africa have won top honors at the United Nations Investment Promotion Awards for excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will have social and economic benefits and help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The awards, organized by UNCTAD, honor investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and their governments for their achievements, but also showcase best practices in attracting investment into SDG-related projects that can inspire investment promotion practitioners in developing and developed countries.

“IPAs have a critical role to play in mobilizing investment to achieve the SDGs,” UNCTAD’s director of investment and enterprise James Zhan said. “The award-winning agencies show that, by mainstreaming the SDGs, IPAs can make a valuable contribution to social and economic development.”

The awards were presented at a high-profile ceremony in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, immediately after the grand opening of the World Investment Forum.

2018 AWARDS:

• Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB Bahrain)

What the judges said: UNCTAD gave the award to EDB Bahrain for its role in attracting a large-scale regional data center, which will provide cloud computing services in Bahrain and neighboring countries. The investor plans to employ 10,000 data-solution architects and will support the advancement of technology education in Bahrain and other countries in the Middle East. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, presented the award.

• Invest India

What the judges said: Invest India received the award for excellence in servicing and supporting a major global wind turbines company in the establishment of a blade manufacturing plant in India while committing to train local staff and produce 1 gigawatt of renewable energy. Implementation of the project is expected to reduce India’s wind energy cost significantly. Armen Sarkissian, President of the Republic of Armenia, presented the award.

• Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)

What the judges said: LNDC received the award for a large horticulture investment project that will create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs. Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia, presented the award.

• InvestSA (South Africa)

What the judges said: UNCTAD gave the award to InvestSA for its instrumental role in facilitating two pioneering waste-to-nutrient recycling projects to up-cycle organic waste into natural, sustainable high-protein animal feed. Each project will offer much-needed jobs in local communities and is expected to save an annual 80,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by diverting organic waste from landfill. MarÃa Fernanda Espinosa GarcÃ©s, president of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, presented the award.

2018 SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

• Apex-Brasil, Brazil, received a Special Recognition for Fostering Partnership for its efforts in initiating and facilitating strategic, financial and technology partnerships between foreign-invested auto parts companies and local suppliers. UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi presented the award

• Invest Pacific, Colombia, received a Special Recognition for Promoting Investment for targeting and attracting a seed nursery project by a Peruvian company in a region affected by armed conflict. The project consolidated peace kick-started sustainable economic development in the area and generated 120 direct jobs - 70% of which have been filled by women. Astrid, Princess of Belgium, presented the award.

• Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA) from the Russian Federation received a Special Recognition for Promoting Investment for its role in targeting and securing American investment in an advanced radiotherapy medical center through a public-private partnership. The center makes the latest oncological treatments locally available to thousands of people who otherwise had to travel long distances for treatment. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, presented the award.

The IPA Awards have been given annually since 2002 as part of UNCTAD’s investment promotion and facilitation programme. Winners in 2017 were COFIDES of Spain, the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Board of Investment of Mauritius.

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

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