The Maldives will host the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Global Business Network Forum 2026 and the Island Investment Forum from 23 – 25 August 2026, in Malé, Maldives.
The Forum, to be held in Barcelo Nasandhura Malé Hotel, is being co-organised by the Maldivian Government, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, are organizing the Forum, on behalf of the Government of Maldives.
The Maldives was invited to host this Conference, following its active leadership at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in 2024, where President of the Maldives His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu called for greater collaboration among SIDS, especially in support of sustainable development and financing for sustainable development. President Dr Muizzu chaired plenary sessions of the Conference in his capacity as Vice President of the Conference. The Maldives also participated in several interactive panels and side events during the Conference and hosted High Level Side Events. The Maldives was also a co-chair of the Preparatory Committee (Prep Com) for the Fourth SIDS Conference.
The SIDS Global Business Network Forum has been held on a biennial basis since the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in 2014 in Samoa. The Forum aims to strengthen participation of SIDS businesses, investors, development partners and civil society organizations in the development efforts of SIDS.
Similar to previous iterations of the Forum, this year’s Forum will include opportunities to discuss challenges for businesses and investments in SIDS and to conduct development projects in those countries. Participants will also be able to discuss economic and business opportunities in SIDS, share lessons learned, and experiences in finding solutions to challenges they face. The Forum will also provide space for businesses, development agencies, and investors to network and build connections with one another, across the SIDS regions.
The Forum will provide opportunity for the Maldives to showcase the progress it has made, lessons learned and expertise in areas where Maldives has made significant progress, and showcase innovative work undertaken by Maldivian enterprises, to an international audience. Various activities will also be organized to showcase efforts in the areas of tourism, fisheries, renewable energy, and conservation. 
The Island Investment Forum was envisaged in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States, adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, as a biennial forum. The Forum aims to identify investment opportunities in SIDS, create space for networking among investors and identify investors for SIDS. This year’s Forum will be the inaugural edition of the Forum, and will work to identify investment opportunities in SIDS, the challenges to investing in SIDS, and identify solutions for those challenges. 
This year’s Forum will see the participation of over 200 participants from over 30 different countries.
ENDS

Ref: 2026/PR/194

Ref: 2026/PR/193