SESRIC and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will jointly organise the SESRIC-UNCTAD Regional Seminar on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Statistics in OIC Member Countries on 27 October 2026 in Doha, Qatar, on the occasion of the 9th World Investment Forum (WIF 2026), hosted by the State of Qatar on 25–27 October 2026.
Reliable and timely investment statistics are essential for understanding the impact of globalisation on sustainable economic development and for supporting evidence-based policymaking. However, challenges remain in several developing countries, particularly in strengthening the quality and availability of FDI data and ensuring that such statistics adequately support policy analysis.
The Regional Seminar will bring together representatives and experts from relevant national and international institutions to exchange experiences and discuss recent developments in the compilation, availability and use of FDI statistics in OIC Member Countries.
The Seminar will also address complementary datasets that can enhance the interpretation and analysis of FDI trends, as well as key challenges faced by developing countries in compiling investment statistics and reporting on investment trends.
The programme will feature scene-setting presentations on UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2026 and on the current availability, data gaps and priorities concerning FDI statistics in OIC Member Countries. Thematic discussions will further address the links between FDI and other economic data, firm-level data, and the trade finance dimension of FDI.
The Seminar will further explore how national statistical agencies, investment promotion agencies, investment authorities, central banks and other relevant institutions can strengthen collaboration to improve the availability and quality of investment data. In particular, discussions will consider the role of complementary datasets, including greenfield investment projects and international project finance deals, in enhancing the relevance of FDI statistics for monitoring the development of productive capacities.
The programme will conclude with country experiences and an interactive discussion, providing participants with an opportunity to share institutional practices, challenges and perspectives on strengthening FDI statistics and their effective communication for policymaking. Representatives of central banks, national statistical offices and other relevant institutions of OIC Member Countries, as well as of participating international organisations, are expected to contribute to the discussions.
Through this joint initiative with UNCTAD, SESRIC continues to support efforts to strengthen statistical capacities and promote the effective use of reliable economic data across OIC Member Countries, while fostering greater cooperation and knowledge exchange among relevant national and international stakeholders.
For more details on the Regional Seminar, please visit the official World Investment Forum 2026 session page: Link
