The obvious negative impact of the social and economic policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as manifested at the United Nations Investment Promotion Awards as Nigeria failed to take the centre stage at the global event.

Instead, agencies from Bahrain, India, Lesotho and South Africa won top honours at the UN event for excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will have social and economic benefits and help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A further three Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) were honoured with special recognitions at the awards.

The awards, organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD), honour IPAs and their governments for their achievements, but also showcase best practices in attracting investment into SDG-related projects that can inspire investment promotion practitioners in developing and developed countries.

The Kingdom of Lesotho is however, made up mostly of highlands where many of the villages can be reached only on horseback, by foot or light aircraft. Unlike Nigeria, resources are scarce – a consequence of the harsh environment of the highland plateau and limited agricultural space in the lowlands.

This former British protectorate has been heavily dependent on the country which completely surrounds it - South Africa. Over the decades thousands of workers have been forced by the lack of job opportunities to find work at South African mines.

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project was completed in the 1990s to export water to South Africa.

On the other hand, South Africa is located at the southern tip of the continent, bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. It is a vast country with widely varying landscapes and has 11 official languages, as well as an equally diverse population.

South Africa is renowned for its wines and is one of the world's largest producers of gold. South Africa has the strongest economy in Africa, and is an influential player in African politics. In 2010, South Africa hosted the first Football World Cup to be held on the African continent.

In the meantime, UNCTAD’s Director of Investment and Enterprise, James Zhan said: “IPAs have a critical role to play in mobilising investment to achieve the SDGs. The award-winning agencies show that, by mainstreaming the SDGs, IPAs can make a valuable contribution to social and economic development.”

The awards were presented at a high-profile ceremony in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, immediately after the grand opening of the World Investment Forum:

2018 Awards:

Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB Bahrain)

What the judges said: EDB Bahrain was awarded for its role in attracting a large-scale regional data center, which will provide cloud computing services in Bahrain and neighbouring countries. The investor plans to employ 10,000 data-solution architects and will support the advancement of technology education in Bahrain and other countries in the Middle East. The award was presented by Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana

Invest India

What the judges said: Invest India received the award for excellence in servicing and supporting a major global wind turbines company in the establishment of a blade manufacturing plant in India while committing to train local staff and produce 1 gigawatt of renewable energy. Implementation of the project is expected to reduce India’s wind energy cost significantly. The award was presented by Armen Sarkissian, President of the Republic of Armenia.

Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)

What the judges said: The LNDC received the award for a large horticulture investment project that will create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs. The LNDC is revered for its proactive role in securing the project and facilitating a partnership approach with joint financing by local and international private investors, LNDC and an international development institution. The award was presented by Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia

InvestSA (South Africa)

What the judges said: InvestSA was awarded for its instrumental role in facilitating two pioneering waste-to-nutrient recycling projects to up-cycle organic waste into natural, sustainable high-protein animal feed. Each project will offer much-needed jobs in local communities and is expected to save an annual 80,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by diverting organic waste from landfill. The award was presented by María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, president of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

2018 Special Recognitions:

Apex-Brasil, Brazil, received a Special Recognition for Fostering Partnership for its efforts in initiating and facilitating strategic, financial and technology partnerships between foreign-invested auto parts companies and local suppliers. The award was presented by UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi.

Invest Pacific, Colombia, received a Special Recognition for Promoting Investment for targeting and attracting a seed nursery project by a Peruvian company in a region affected by armed conflict. The project consolidated peace, kick-started sustainable economic development in the region and generated 120 direct jobs – 70% of which have been filled by women. The award was presented by Astrid, Princess of Belgium.

Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA) from the Russian Federation received a Special Recognition for Promoting Investment for its role in targeting and securing American investment in an advanced radiotherapy medical centre through a public-private partnership. The centre makes the latest oncological treatments locally available to thousands of people who otherwise had to travel long distances for treatment. The award was presented by Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia.

To catalyse efforts to promote investment in the SDGs, UNCTAD’s World Investment Forum features several events explicitly designed for IPAs, including an IPA capacity-building workshop, an investment promotion conference focused on partnerships and investment in cities, dialogues between ministers and business executives, and SDG-related investments by sovereign wealth and pension funds.

The IPA Awards have been given annually since 2002 as part of UNCTAD’s investment promotion and facilitation programme. Winners in 2017 were COFIDES of Spain, the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Board of Investment of Mauritius.

•Delegates gather between the countrys' booths at the Investment Village, during the World Investment Promotion Awards

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