Doha:Officials, experts, business representatives, and young individuals have called for the expansion of indicators used in investment decisions to include well-being, inclusion, sustainability, and intergenerational equity, alongside gross domestic product (GDP). This recommendation was made during a dialogue session at the World Investment Forum (WIF 2026) in Doha, titled "Investing Beyond GDP for Sustainable and Inclusive Progress."
According to Qatar News Agency, the session addressed a paradox faced by many developing economies achieving high growth rates while grappling with unemployment, inequality, and poverty. The discussions considered UN initiatives such as the UN Secretary-General's report "Valuing What Counts" and the Sevilla Global Alliance for Beyond GDP, emphasizing that measurement influences funding priorities and financial flows.
Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Secretary-General of Qatar's National Planning Council, highlighted Qatar's adoption of a comprehensive economic growth concept since the launch of Qatar National Vision 2030. This approach, reflected in national strategies, aims to diversify the economy's GDP contributions while maintaining GDP as a key economic performance measure. He pointed out that national planning guides growth direction, beneficiaries, and long-term impacts, with young people and future generations central to development plans.
Zahra Zumrut Selcuk, Director-General of SESRIC, noted that GDP measures production value but not quality of life, equality, or resource sustainability. She identified statistical challenges within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and proposed monitoring youth not in education, employment, or training, linking economic indicators with human dignity.
Ambassador Soheil Mahmoud, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization, suggested incorporating the broader progress concept into economic, social, and environmental cooperation, with an emphasis on partnerships and investment programs linking education and technology.
Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Secretary-General of the Club of Rome, advocated a shift in risk-assessment models to include social and environmental factors, emphasizing community-based investment.
Dr. Jonathan Choi shared the Sanwa family group's transition from profit-focused operations to sustainable practices, illustrating successful community investment in Yunnan Province.
Fatima Mohammed from the Youth Beyond GDP Network stressed the importance of youth involvement in decision-making to ensure growth serves a broader purpose, focusing on people's development.
The session concluded with a consensus on the need for reliable data, government coordination, and South-South partnerships, ensuring funding decisions impact people's lives and the environment positively, with youth engagement in shaping future decisions.
