At the 29th World Investment Conference (WIC), held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, from 21–23 October 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) showcased how investment promotion and facilitation can translate foreign direct investment (FDI) into more and better jobs, contributing to inclusive growth and sustainable development. The event, convened by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), highlighted the ILO’s ongoing partnership with WAIPA, established in 2016, to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth.
Githa Roelans, Head of the ILO’s Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct Unit, delivered a masterclass on “KPIs for Assessing the Impact of FDI on Decent Work.” The session drew from a decade of collaboration between the ILO and WAIPA, which has reached around 100 investment promotion agencies (IPAs) globally. Participants explored a practical framework of 11 themes and 51 indicators focused on job creation, skills development, occupational safety and health, gender equality, and responsible business conduct. The framework is designed to help IPAs align investment promotion strategies with national priorities and international labor standards.
On 22 October, Rie Vejs-Kjeldgaard, Director of the ILO’s ENTERPRISES Department, joined a high-level panel titled “Green is the New Gold: Competitive Advantage Through Sustainable Investment.” The discussion examined how sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles are reshaping global investment trends. Vejs-Kjeldgaard emphasized that green investments not only advance environmental objectives but also generate quality employment, strengthen local enterprise linkages, and promote inclusivity for women, youth, and disadvantaged groups. That evening, the ILO also participated in the jury for WAIPA’s 2025 Investment Excellence Awards, evaluating submissions for the Sustainability Impact Award. The award was presented to ApexBrasil for facilitating a major biofuels investment that supports Brazil’s decarbonization goals while fostering inclusive growth and job creation through local supply chains and skills development.
On 23 October, the ILO and WAIPA co-hosted the high-level roundtable “Beyond the Bottom Line: Turning FDI into More and Better Jobs.” Senior representatives from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, and Türkiye’s Investment and Finance Office discussed how their respective countries use FDI to advance development priorities. They shared practical approaches to encourage job creation, skills transfer, local enterprise linkages, responsible investment, and data-driven policy development. The discussion also highlighted the importance of leveraging the green and digital transitions to create inclusive employment opportunities.
The conference concluded with a preview of the ILO’s forthcoming collection of case studies, which document how IPAs apply key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure FDI’s contribution to decent work and economic growth. This initiative builds upon the ILO–WAIPA partnership’s earlier work and aims to serve as a resource for IPAs worldwide. The ILO also announced plans to launch a Community of Practice for IPAs in December 2025, providing a platform for continued exchange of knowledge, best practices, and innovations in linking FDI with sustainable job creation.
