The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qassimi on Wednesday promoted an upcoming investment meeting in Dubai as a platform to connect investors seeking new destinations with fast growing economies.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the second Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) scheduled on May 1-3, Sheikha Lubna said analysis showed that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or long-term capital is the best tool to finance development in transitioning economies.

She went on to say that the AIM, with participants from 45 countries, promises to bring together foreign investors and decision-makers in emerging markets with a view to achieve sustainable capital inflows.

"The UAE has attracted 220 billion Dirham (60 billion U.S. dollars) during the past five years," Sheikha Lubna said.

Moreover, said the minister, the UAE has attracted the largest amount of West Asian investments, which exceed 1.17 trillion Dirham (327 billion U. S. dollars), about 57 percent of the total investments of countries in the region, according to the ministry of foreign trade.

The AIM was born out of the development shift in the world economic landscape, which indicates a rise of emerging markets, especially in the Eastern hemisphere, Sheikha Lubna said.

A great addition to the event this year is the China-Arab Industrial and Leadership Forum which is an initiative designed to enhance partnership plans for China and the Gulf Cooperation Council, the minister said.