In a little over two decades, the number of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) has grown from 62 in 2000 to 176 currently. Funds from North Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, and the Gulf now comprise a pool of over $4.1 trillion looking to invest long-term in human capital development and high value technologies that could transform the region through job creation and capital formation. SWFs increasingly seek to enlarge capital allocations by moving away from stability funds to include foreign exchange reserves, revenues from privatization, government transfer payments, remittance flows, and other new investment vehicles. How can short term intensification of natural resource development encourage regional energy transitions and new technologies that promote sustainability and reduce fossil fuel demand? What catalytic role can SWFs play in building markets for the next generation of new technologies and expanding connectivity between the Middle East, Africa, and the Mediterranean Basin?

Moderator

Glenn Yago

Senior Fellow and Founder, Financial Innovation Lab, Milken Innovation Center

Speakers

Victoria Barbary

Director, Strategy and Communications, International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds

Bernardo Bortolotti

Professor of Finance and Executive Director, Transition Investment Lab, NYU Abu Dhabi

Eric Bundugu

Deputy Executive Director, Capital Market Authority, Rwanda

Haris Lambropoulos

President, Hellenic Development Bank of Investments SA (HDBI)

Edward Talmor-Gera

CEO, NewVest