An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report from Paris.
The Investment Migration Forum opened in Paris with a wide-ranging “Opening Bell” session that brought together voices from economics, academia, government, due diligence, public policy and private practice to examine the forces shaping the future of investment migration.
The Investment Migration Forum – organised by The Investment Migration Council (IMC) between June 9–12, 2026 – opened in Paris with a wide-ranging “Opening Bell” session that brought together voices from economics, academia, government, due diligence, public policy and private practice to examine the forces shaping the future of investment migration.
This year’s Forum, the 11th edition, brought together more than 300 participants from over 40 countries, reflecting its standing as one of the most important global gatherings in the investment migration sphere. Delegates included government representatives, academics, lawyers, due diligence specialists, private client advisers, real estate professionals, wealth advisers and other stakeholders involved in global mobility and investment.
Held under the title Insights from This Year’s Forum, the session reflected the increasingly broad agenda of the investment migration field. Residence and citizenship by investment are no longer discussed only as products or programmes. They are now being examined in relation to geopolitics, economic uncertainty, global mobility, soft power, due diligence, and the competition among states to attract talent, capital and credibility.
Bruno L’ecuyer FIMC, CEO of the Investment Migration Council, opened the discussion by highlighting the Forum’s role as a platform capable of producing practical outcomes for the profession. He pointed to the work of the IMC’s communities of practice, including the due diligence white paper prepared for this year’s Forum, as an example of how expert collaboration can generate tangible benefits for the field as a whole.
The opening of the Forum also included a heartfelt tribute to the late Jonathan Cardona, Chief Executive of Residency Malta Agency, whose passing earlier this year was met with widespread sadness across the investment migration community.
Addressing delegates, Bruno L’ecuyer, Chief Executive of the Investment Migration Council, thanked Cardona for his steadfast support of the sector and for his unwavering commitment to raising professional standards. He described Cardona as a respected leader who played an important role in strengthening Malta’s position within the global mobility landscape, while championing transparency, professionalism and constructive dialogue. L’ecuyer noted that Cardona’s contribution extended well beyond Malta, leaving a lasting mark on the international investment migration community.
Andres Solimano FIMC, IMC Chair and Chief Economist, placed the conversation in the wider context of the global economy. He noted the pressures created by slow growth and uncertainty, underlining how investor mobility is increasingly shaped by macroeconomic conditions, political risk and the search for stability in an unsettled world.
“investment migration now sits at the intersection of capital, mobility, reputation, regulation and state strategy”
Charlie Maggi, Founder of IDEAFrance, addressed France’s potential as a residency-by-investment jurisdiction. He argued that France is often perceived as complex, yet remains one of Europe’s strongest destinations for foreign direct investment. He said a properly structured investment route could allow investors to inject capital directly into French companies, making the model straightforward from both an investment and business development perspective.
Noora A. Lori, Associate Professor at Boston University, brought an academic lens to the discussion by examining passport power as a measure of international politics rather than merely as a travel convenience. She described passport rankings as a proxy for trust, desirability, security and soft power, showing how mobility rights reflect the way states perceive one another and the populations they represent.
Panama emerged as one of the strongest themes of the opening day. Walter Cohen, Director General of the ProPanama Government Agency, presented the country as a jurisdiction seeking to speak with one voice to the global investment migration community. He stressed the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors, positioning Panama as a destination of interest for investors, legal professionals, real estate developers and policy stakeholders.
The country’s profile was raised further later in the day, when H. Ron Klasko FIMC, Chairman of Klasko Immigration Partners, interviewed Julio Armando Moltó Alain, Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industry. Before entering his present role, Moltó held senior positions in public security and the private sector, including as Director of the National Police of Panama, Executive Secretary of the National Security Council, and senior executive within a Panamanian media group. His ministerial portfolio now includes foreign direct investment, export promotion, international relations and Panama’s residency-by-investment framework.
During the interview, Moltó framed Panama not simply as a transit point, but as a business centre built over decades around international trade, connectivity and services. Geography, he suggested, explains where Panama is, but not what the country has become. Its position between continents, markets and cultures has been converted into an asset for investment, innovation and regional expansion.
For international investors, entrepreneurs and families, Panama’s appeal rests on more than location. The country offers access to Latin America and the Caribbean through its ports, logistics infrastructure, international airport, service economy and business community. Moltó described Panama as a base from which investors can reach multiple markets, manage regional operations and expand across the Americas.
Asked what gives Panama its strongest differentiation, the Minister pointed to its ability to reduce friction in cross-border business. In a global economy where companies operate across multiple countries and investors seek efficiency, certainty and access, Panama’s role, he suggested, is to make investment, trade and expansion more efficient.
The Panamanian presence at this year’s Forum was also notable. The country was represented by a sizeable delegation, including figures from government, the legal sphere, finance and real estate. During the opening session, L’ecuyer also hinted that next year’s 12th Investment Migration Forum could move to a new continent, with Panama being considered as a possible host destination in the Americas.
While no formal announcement has yet been made, such a move would mark a significant geographical shift for the Forum. It would also underline the growing importance of Latin America in global mobility, investment and wealth migration conversations.
The day’s discussions also featured contributions from Lisa Chanesman IMCM, Founding Chair of the IM Community of Practice, and H. Ron Klasko FIMC, reflecting the breadth of expertise gathered at this year’s Forum.
As the session made clear, investment migration now sits at the intersection of capital, mobility, reputation, regulation and state strategy. From economic uncertainty and passport power to due diligence, foreign direct investment and emerging regional opportunities, the discussion set the tone for a Forum focused not only on market trends, but also on the wider forces reshaping the movement of people, wealth and opportunity across borders.
As the official media partner of the Investment Migration Forum 2026, IMGlobalWealth.com will continue to bring readers exclusive updates, insights and coverage as the Forum unfolds in Paris.
