FII PRIORITY Rio de Janeiro Summit Concludes with Key Discussions on Global Economic Growth and Sustainability
25 June 2024 - 11:00AM
FII PRIORITY Rio de Janeiro Summit Concludes with Key Discussions
on Global Economic Growth and Sustainability
The third and final day of the FII PRIORITY Rio de Janeiro Summit
concluded with pivotal discussions on global economic growth and
sustainability. Organised by the FII Institute, the summit
attracted nearly 1,500 global leaders, innovators, and
entrepreneurs who participated in over 65 sessions. Delegates
attended solution-focused conclaves, and observed FII Institute’s
first Innovators Pitch, setting the stage for the final series at
FII Institute’s 8th flagship Future Investment Initiative (FII) in
October.
The day began with a fireside chat with His Excellency Geraldo
Alckmin, Vice President of Brazil, who addressed foreign direct
investment and the global energy transition. He remarked, “Brazil
received the second-highest foreign investment in the world during
2023, trailing only the United States. Our recent tax reforms are
expected to enhance this further,” he told the audience, setting a
collaborative and forward-looking tone for the day.
Another highlight was the session titled ‘Message to the G20’,
featuring a thought-provoking discussion with five former Latin
American leaders, moderated by FII Institute CEO Richard Attias.
H.E. Felipe Calderon, Former President of Mexico; H.E. Laura
Chinchilla, Former President of Costa Rica; H.E. Alberto Fernández,
Former President of Argentina; H.E. Jorge Quiroga, Former President
of Bolivia; and H.E. Juan Manuel Santos, Former President of
Colombia and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, encouraged attendees to
be the change they want to see in the world, emphasising the
importance of collective effort in combating climate change and
upholding the rule of law for a prosperous future for all.
Marcelo Claure of Claure Group and SHEIN emphasised the
importance of equitable access to AI, noting, “AI is the great
equaliser. We can bridge the divide between emerging and developed
markets in education and healthcare.” Commenting on the future of
AI and its integration within various industries, Claure added
“with the internet, the cost of information went down to zero and
disrupted the advertising business. Then, ecommerce disrupted the
retail space. My vision of AI is that it will disrupt all, other
untouched industries.”
In a session titled ‘Rulebreakers: What Global Megatrends Are
Influencing the World’s Top Investors?’, Claure was joined by Sir
Martin Sorrell of S4 Capital, who discussed the need for adaptation
to technological advances, stating, “Henry Ford created the
five-day working week. COVID-19 accelerated the shift to remote
working. Now, technologies like AI and the Metaverse will push this
evolution further.”
In keeping with Rio de Janeiro’s entrepreneurial spirit, the
summit saw FII Institute’s first-ever Innovators Pitch Competition.
Nine startups presented solutions to pressing global issues in AI
& Robotics, Education, Healthcare, and Sustainability. Hera
Health Solution emerged as the main winner, a startup focusing on
an AI-enabled drug delivery platform, with Aravita securing the
People’s Choice award. The startup offers an optimised fresh food
ordering service with AI, reducing waste and stockouts to boost
grocer profits.
Throughout the summit, FII Institute convened industry experts
to address critical global issues in its conclave series, covering
topics such as AI, ocean regeneration, energy transition, and ESG.
Industry leaders advocated for a collaborative approach to
sustainability, the deployment of AI in emerging markets, and ESG's
focus on climate resilience. Emphasis was placed on inclusive
policies, targeted investment, and mentorship to empower
entrepreneurs in developing regions.
With the closing of FII PRIORITY Rio de Janeiro Summit, FII
Institute will now shift its focus to the forthcoming 8th FII in
October, where the momentum generated in Rio will continue to drive
impactful discussions and initiatives. The conference is slated for
29 to 31 October 2024, under the theme ‘Infinite Horizons’.
E-mail: media@fii-institute.org
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aa4962dc-9bf3-47d8-987d-0ab8074d1f1b