About the Symposium

IEA founded the Global Investment Symposium “Pathways to Prosperity” as a pragmatic annual program for senior decision-makers from governments and corporations around the world to explore investment opportunities and advance concrete projects.  Held in the congenial and results-minded atmosphere of the Harvard Club of NYC, the Symposium features presentations of investment possibilities by visiting Heads of State and Ministers highlighting business opportunities in their countries, executive interviews with business and academic leaders, and private meetings.

The Symposia convened in September 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 at the Harvard Club of NYC, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).  Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, the European Union Presidency, Georgia, Israel, Morocco, Netherlands, Qatar, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sweden, Turkey, Vietnam, and the USA partook, while Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, the European Commission, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Senegal, and Tanzania attended as observer countries.  The Symposium reflects the commitment of Heads of State/Ministers to the development of their economies. 

Past Business Discussions have been moderated by Harvard Business School Professors and have included Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, Barclays Chairman Archibald Cox, Edelman, CEO Richard Edelman, UBS Vice Chairman Senator Phil Gramm, Starr & Co CEO Maurice Greenberg, Sealed Air CEO William Hickey, Silverlake CEO Glenn Hutchins, Mosaic CEO James Prokopanko, T. Boone Pickens, Blackstone's Peter G. Peterson and The Honorable Paul Volcker.

This year, the symposium will be co-hosted by IEA’s Co-Chairs The Honorable Paul Volcker and Ambassador Thomas Pickering. Moderators are Robert Pozen, former Chairman of MFS and Harvard Business School Professor, Professor Malcolm Salter of HBS, and Professor Roberto Rigobon of MIT. Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, will provide unique and innovative economic insights. The interactive business discussions include Peter G. Peterson on global finance/debt and Maurice Greenberg on growth. 

Additionally, Saudi Arabia will present their $1 trillion opportunity to build new cities and Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cote d'Ivore, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Panama, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Vietnam have reserved their place to lead a Head of State/Minister presentation and to hold private meetings. 

While both of these meetings are closed to businessmen, the UN supports the Symposium as a ‘Voice of Business’ and as a chance for Heads of State to present their countries' investment opportunities and engage directly with world business leaders.  With Harvard Professors on the IEA Academic Alliance, unique interactive sessions have been developed to enable our members and invited leaders to convey their views on key economic issues. These “Voice of Business” summaries will be delivered to the G-20 and other government leaders.

This year’s priorities are to gain insights into how governments intend to regulate and grow the global economy, as well as to capture the views of the business world on economic policies to advance trade, investment and create jobs.