The 2020 edition of the UN Investment Promotion Awards recognized the work of 3 investment promotion agencies (IPAs) for excellence in their response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The Estonian Investment Agency won the award for the innovativeness it showed in supporting its stakeholders and investors during the pandemic through digital solutions. These included initiating chatbot and e-consulting services, and virtual business visits for investors, leveraging the country’s information technology capacity and experience with e-government.

Invest India won the award in recognition of the breadth of the services and information that it has offered the Indian investment community since the onset of the pandemic. A prime example of its work is the creation of Invest India’s comprehensive Business Immunity Platform. The platform offers services such as a COVID-19 helpdesk, information on central and state advisories, notifications and government support measures and the latest news on the pandemic

The Rwanda Development Board won the award for the effective use of its advanced online business promotion and registration services during the pandemic and for setting up partnerships to facilitate and prepare the country’s economy for recovery.These partnerships focus on the development of new skills in the labour force, securing safety in the tourism sector and the promotion of digitalization, among others.

Special recognition for mainstreaming gender in investment promotion

UNCTAD gave a special recognition for mainstreaming gender in investment promotion.

The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) received this special recognition for its strategic approach in addressing gender in its work. CINDE has set objectives, defined indicators, and developed partnerships to contribute to national commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as Sustainable Development Goal 5, which tackles this issue.