OECD Sustainable Investment Days Agenda Day 1 - 9th OECD IPA Network Meeting
All open sessions will take place at the OECD Conference Center in Paris and will be broadcasted live online and available on replay after the event.
All session times reflect your computer's local time zone.
Background
Governments worldwide are seeking to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to support national development objectives. Many, if not all, use investment incentives to attract investments that align with policy objectives, such as contributing to a knowledge-based economy, supporting the green transition, promoting digital transformation and achieving inclusive growth. Investment incentives can take many forms, such as tax, financial, regulatory and in-kind incentives. While these are designed to meet specific policy objectives, they must be well-crafted and properly implemented to be effective.
Investment promotion agencies (IPAs) are key players in promoting and facilitating FDI and are under increasing pressure to deliver results. They are tasked with attracting not just more investments but better-quality investments. As a result, IPAs are adopting more selective investment promotion strategies and developing more sophisticated performance indicators.
The role of investment incentives in investment promotion strategies and in the operations of IPAs varies significantly across countries. The main objective of this year’s OECD IPA Network Meeting is to discuss the goals and significance of incentives and their alignment with investment promotion priorities. There will also be a sector focus on the digital industry and technical exchanges on measuring sustainable investment.
Part 1: 09h15-12h45 - Open to the public
Part 2: 14h00-18h00 - Closed sessions for full members only (Representatives of national IPAs from OECD and Accession countries that have paid their membership fee to the OECD Secretariat)
Day
1 :
November 5, 202407:30 - 08:15
ARRIVAL OF PARTICIPANTS
08:15 - 08:25
PART 1 - Welcoming Remarks
08:25 - 09:45
PART 1 - Session 1. Policy Objectives behind Investment Incentives and Role in Investment Promotion Strategies
This session will explore the role of investment incentives as a tool for governments to achieve specific policy objectives and their importance in investment promotion strategies. Panellists will discuss how global economic trends shape the design and deployment of incentives, examining their impact on fostering FDI. The session will also consider the effectiveness of investment incentives compared to other factors that influence investment decisions, such as local conditions and policy frameworks. The integration of incentive schemes into broader national investment promotion strategies will be explored, along with a balanced look at the benefits, potential consequences, and how incentives can be complemented by other policy and promotional tools.
09:45 - 10:15
COFFEE BREAK
10:15 - 11:35
PART 1 - Session 2. Attracting FDI in the Digital Sector
This session will explore opportunities, challenges and benefits of attracting FDI in the digital industry as well as strategies to be successful. The discussion will explore how companies in this sector make their investment decisions and how governments segment the digital economy to prioritise various areas for FDI. Panellists will address the pivotal role of governments and IPAs in promoting digital FDI along with successful strategies for attracting FDI in this sector and the necessary conditions for creating a favourable environment. The panel will also consider the benefits and potential drawbacks of digital FDI, offering insights into how to maximise positive outcomes while mitigating any potential risks.
11:35 - 11:45
PART 1 - Concluding Remarks
11:45 - 13:00
LUNCH BREAK
13:00 - 14:30
PART 2 - Session 3: Alignment of Investment Incentives with IPA Priorities and Role of IPAs
Closed session for full members only.
This session will examine the alignment of investment incentives with the strategic investment promotion priorities of IPAs across OECD countries. The discussion will focus on the role of IPAs in the governance, design, administration, and monitoring of investment incentives aimed at attracting FDI. Panellists will explore the extent to which IPAs should be involved in the governance of incentives and how coherence between these incentives and IPAs’ strategic objectives can be achieved, especially given their often-limited role in incentive design. The session will also delve into ways to strengthen coordination mechanisms to ensure that incentives are effectively targeting the priority sectors identified by IPAs. Additionally, session will discuss how IPAs can best monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of investment incentives in areas where they are uniquely positioned to do so.
14:30 - 15:00
COFFEE BREAK
15:00 - 16:30
PART 2 - Session 4: Monitoring and Evaluation of Sustainable Investment – Focus on Decarbonisation and Gender Equality
Closed session for full members only.
This session will focus on the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of sustainable investment, with a particular emphasis on decarbonisation and gender equality. Drawing on insights from the 2023 survey and the 2024 FDI Qualities Indicators, the discussion will explore effective methods and indicators used to measure FDI outcomes in these critical areas. Panellists will examine the specific criteria used to track progress and the challenges encountered in aligning M&E frameworks with sustainable investment goals. The session will also delve into how existing methods can be refined to provide more accurate and actionable insights. The role of IPAs in forming strategic partnerships with public entities and external data providers to enhance M&E processes will also be discussed, along with the impact of these collaborations on improving evaluation efforts.
16:30 - 17:00
PART 2 - Conclusion and Next Steps