World Investment Forum: Seeking Ways to Unlock the Idle Trillions

As the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, business and government leaders from across the world gathered this week in Geneva for the biennial World Investment Forum (WIF). The UNCTAD-sponsored four-day event brought together

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Nigerian Stock Exchange: Corporate Governance to Reign Supreme

The buoyant Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), with well over two hundred listed securities representing a total market capitalisation in excess of $80bn (equities), is set to become the destination of choice for both investors and companies looking to raise capital,

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Cityscape Launches Inaugural Event in Kuwait

Region’s Largest Real Estate Event Shines Spotlight on Kuwait Real Estate Market Cityscape Kuwait, the premier international real estate investment and development event in the State of Kuwait is scheduled to open doors on 7 – 9 December 2014 at

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Sustainable Stock Exchanges: Urgent Need for Simple Metrics

The 4th biennial Global Dialogue on the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, concluded yesterday (10/14) at the United Nations Geneva headquarters, unveiled the urgent need for all stakeholders – stock exchanges, regulators, investors, and businesses – to adopt simple, yet

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Sustainable Stock Exchanges: The Relevance of Green Indices

At the fourth Global Dialogue of Sustainable Stock Exchange (SSE) Initiative, last Tuesday in Geneva, Nasdaq OMX vice-chairman Meyer “Sandy” Frucher livened up discussions by spelling out a few hard-hitting truths. Though delivered in way that elicited chuckles from the

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WIF: Start-Up Democracy Tunisia Steals the Show

Interim Prime-Minister Mehdi Jomâa of Tunisia has offered to host the next World Investment Forum (WIF), scheduled to take place two years from now. In Geneva for the 2014 WIF, an event organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade

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World Bank Group: Can Resource-Financed Infrastructure Fix the Natural Resource Curse?

By Håvard Halland, John Beardsworth, Bryan Land, and James Schmidt How can resource-rich countries ensure that a sufficiently large share of oil, gas, and mining revenues are used for productive investment rather than excessive or wasteful consumption? “Resource-financed infrastructure” (RFI)

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Graça Machel: The Only First Lady of Two Countries

She is the only known woman to have been the first lady of two countries. Graça Machel (68) is, however, best known for her dedication to the plight of refugee children around the world. She gained wide respect as an

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Zambia Set to Impress and Welcome Investors

Zambia has seen foreign direct investment (FDI) increase significantly to well over $1bn in 2013 – up 31% over the previous year. The number of projects receiving capital investment from outside the country went up as well. Greenfield investment in

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James Zhan, UNCTAD: Investing in Sustainable Development Goals

The SDGs, which are being formulated by the United Nations together with the widest possible range of stakeholders, are intended to galvanise action worldwide through concrete targets to 2030 for poverty reduction, food security, human health and education, climate change

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