Doha:The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) convened a regional seminar today to discuss the improvement of foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics in member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
According to Saudi Press Agency, the seminar took place alongside the ninth World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha, Qatar, with participation from the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat).
The event gathered international experts, policymakers, and representatives from central banks and national statistical offices across several member states to review modern methodologies for collecting and analyzing FDI data. The discussions focused on innovative approaches to accurately and reliably measure the development impact of these investments.
Working sessions highlighted the importance of addressing data gaps and strengthening national statistical systems to enhance data quality and ensure comparability among countries. The seminar also explored integrating supplementary datasets, such as new investments and project financing information, to improve the analytical value of investment statistics.
Participants emphasized the necessity of high-quality data for evidence-based economic policymaking and informed investment decisions that support sustainable development in the Islamic world. They also highlighted the need for continued methodological innovation and stronger international partnerships.
The forum, featuring eight sessions, addressed key issues like investment in artificial intelligence, sustainable finance, climate, the space economy, and entrepreneurship. It concluded with the announcement of the Doha Global Investment Framework, which led to over 20 practical outcomes across six priority areas, including the signing of nine international strategic agreements and partnerships to implement global discussions into measurable development projects.
Source Saudi Press Agency