James X. Zhan

Chief Adviser and Senior Director, UN Trade and Development

Chief Advisor, and Senior Director for Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD. Concurrently also Chief Editor of UN World Investment Report and the Transnational Corporations Journal. Chair of the Governing Board of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (with all major stock exchanges worldwide as members). Co-chair of the Executive Board of UNCTAD-FBN Family Business for Sustainable Development Initiative. Founding Co-chair of the World Investment-Development Alliance, and co-chair of Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones. Has directed extensive policy research on key issues and facilitated the formulation of outcomes at various international summits including G20 and BRICS. Provided strategic and policy advice to governments (including heads of states and cabinet) and parliaments in over 100 countries. Led the formulation of global guidelines for a new generation of investment policies, and the establishment of the UNCTAD World Investment Forum. Chief Strategist for the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies. Member of the Advisory Council of International Financial Reporting Standards. Has held several advisory positions with academic institutions (e.g. Cambridge University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Oxford University, Fribourg University and the University of Geneva). PhD in International Economics. Research fellow at Oxford University. Member of Trade and Investment Council (2014-2018) and Advanced Manufacturing Council (2012-2013) of the World Economic Forum. Has published extensively on trade and investment-related economic and legal issues. Appears frequently in international media outlets, and member of Editorial Advisory Board of Financial Times fDi Magazine.

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