The COMESA Regional Investment Agency (COMESA RIA) held a regional capacity building workshop for COMESA Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) in Tunisia under the theme ‘Leveraging Innovative Strategies for Foreign Direct Investments in the COMESA Region’.
The main purpose of the workshop was to address critical areas of investment promotion including identification of targeted investors and implementation of lead generation campaigns implemented by IPAs. The capacity building exercise complemented previous capacity building programmes hosted by RIA in various topics demonstrating the continued commitment to raise the profile and impact of investment in the development agenda.
The capacity building exercise complemented previous capacity building programmes previously hosted by RIA on various topics which demonstrates the continued commitment to raise the profile and impact of investment in the development agenda.
Participants gained valuable insights and skills, including understanding the importance of investor targeting and the development of a lead generation programs, utilising strategic investor targeting methods employed by leading and recognizing evolving location determinants from an investor’s perspective.
They also learnt on implementing best practices in lead generation and investor targeting among others.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, COMESA RIA Chief Executive Officer Ms. Heba Salama, acknowledged the valuable support provided by the European Union in organizing the event. Aligning with the workshop’s objectives, Ms. Salama reiterated that the workshop aimed to enhance knowledge and promote best practices in utilizing innovative strategies for foreign direct investment in the COMESA region. Additionally, she highlighted that the workshop served as a platform for IPAs to exchange experiences, as well as to listen and learn from the challenges and successes encountered.
She stressed the importance of digitalizing services provided by IPAs to improve communication, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting aimed at facilitating decision-making processes.
Ms Salama encouraged the representatives of IPAs present to actively participate in the forum and engage with the private sector and investors for positive outcomes to be achieved.
Other speakers at the workshop included the General Director of the Business Climate and Reforms in the Ministry of Economic Planning of Tunisia Mr. Mohamed Abid and Tunisia’s Director General at the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency Mr Jalel Jebib.