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Dear Members of the World Investment Network (WIN), You are invited to join UNCTAD’s online debate on its new Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development (IPFSD). Through its core principles, guidelines and options for national and international investment policymaking, UNCTAD's IPFSD supports sustainable development friendly investment policymaking at both, the national and international level. UNCTAD's IPFSD responds to the recognition that at a time of persistent crises and pressing social and environmental challenges, mobilizing investment and ensuring that it contributes to sustainable development objectives is a priority for all countries and for developing countries in particular. Against this background, a new generation of investment policies is emerging, pursuing a broader and more intricate development policy agenda, while building or maintaining a generally favourable investment climate. “New generation” investment policies place inclusive growth and sustainable development at the heart of efforts to attract and benefit from investment and broadly, strive to: create synergies with wider economic development goals, and achieve integration in development strategies; foster responsible investmentand incorporate principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR); ensure policy effectiveness in design and implementation and in the institutional environment. UNCTAD’s IPFSD consists of a set of Core Principles for investment policymaking, guidelines for national investment policies, and guidance (in the form of options) for the design and negotiation of international investment agreements (IIAs). The IPFSD provides a point of reference for stakeholders of the investment-development community. IPFSD has been designed as a “living document”. UNCTAD’s “IPFSD online” establishes an interactive open-source platform that will enable stakeholders to exchange views and experiences in order to stimulate critical assessment of the guidelines and help us to continuously improve them for the benefit of all. We look forward to your participation in the IPFSD online discussion forum. Please create an account on UNCTAD's Investment Policy Hub, which will allow you to login to the website, participate in general discussions, leave specific comments on the IPFSD and its individual parts, or suggest new topics for discussion. You also have the option to set up email alerts for specific discussion topics or sections of the IPFSD. After registering you will receive an email to validate your account, so please check your email account. The general terms of use of the United Nations are applicable to the use of the IPFSD forum. We very much look forward to your feedback and constructive suggestions. In case of any questions, please contact us at [log in to unmask] Please be also informed that IPFSD will form the main theme of this year's World Investment Report which will be launched on 5 July 2012. With best regards, James X. Zhan Director Investment & Enterprise Division United Nations Conference on Trade & Development Palais des Nations, Geneva Tel: +41 22 9175797 www.unctad.org/diae wir