Maldives to Host SIDS Global Business Network Forum and Island Investment Forum
- The Maldives will host the SIDS Global Business Network Forum 2026 from 23 to 25 August, connecting governments, investors and development partners.
- The event launches the Island Investment Forum, a new platform for showcasing investable projects and engaging directly with potential financiers.
- Organised by the UN with the Governments of the Maldives and Antigua and Barbuda, it supports the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.
The Maldives will host the SIDS Global Business Network Forum 2026 from 23 to 25 August, bringing governments, investors, businesses and development partners together to explore partnerships and investment opportunities for Small Island Developing States.
The event will also mark the launch of the Island Investment Forum, a new platform established under the Small Island Developing States Centre of Excellence. The two forums will operate as a combined platform intended to connect national development priorities and investable projects in island states with potential partners and financiers.
The SIDS Global Business Network Forum is expected to convene representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, entrepreneurs, investors and development institutions. Discussions will focus on building innovative and inclusive partnerships that can support sustainable and resilient development across SIDS.
The Island Investment Forum will add an investment-focused component to the programme, with scope for business engagement, project showcasing and follow-up on prospective partnerships. The forum and marketplace are intended to provide a space for stakeholders to present opportunities and engage directly with potential investors.
The combined event supports implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, which sets out development priorities for island states. By bringing business engagement and investment discussions into one forum, organisers aim to create a practical route for advancing projects relevant to SIDS economies.
The event is being organised by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, in collaboration with the Governments of the Maldives and Antigua and Barbuda.
Registration is open for both the main forum and the related marketplace.
