STORY: Future Investment Initiative conference kicks off in Saudi Arabia
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 29, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 30, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:43
LOCATION: Riyadh
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Future Investment Initiative conference
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YASIR AL-RUMAYYAN, Governor of the Public Investment Fund and chairman of FII Institute
3. various of Future Investment Initiative conference
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RICHARD ATTIAS, CEO of FII Institute
5. various of Future Investment Initiative conference

STORYLINE:

The 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference kicked off on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh.

Dubbed "Davos in the Desert," the FII conference is the largest international investment and innovation forum in the Middle East, attracting many political and business leaders every year.

This year's theme, "Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow," highlights the event's focus on advancing impactful solutions in areas such as global connectivity, mining, artificial intelligence, health technology, sports, the circular economy, and more.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund and chairman of FII Institute, noted that over the past seven years, FII has translated over 125 billion U.S. dollars in deals.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YASIR AL-RUMAYYAN, Governor of the Public Investment Fund and chairman of FII Institute"Today, more than ever, we recognize that economic, social and environmental outcomes are interconnected. And these must be at the core of our decision-making. We have the responsibilities and the opportunities to share a future that invests not only in our economies but in humanity itself."

Al-Rumayyan said that pressing issues like economic instability, rising costs of living, health care disparities, social inequalities, and political tensions, are among the topics attendants of this year's event will focus on.

He called for a shift from investments based on short-term gains to those on "sustainable growth that benefits both our economies and societies."

Richard Attias, CEO of FII Institute, highlighted the importance of collaboration at the event.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RICHARD ATTIAS, CEO of FII Institute"I believe that through our collective efforts, we can and will create a world that is more inclusive, more sustainable."

According to Attias, the 8th FII conference is expected to generate 28 billion dollars in deals.

This year's FII has over 7,000 participants and 600 speakers from diverse sectors.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Riyadh.
(XHTV)