The California Investment Forum (CIF) successfully hosted its CIF2025 Annual Summit on September 16–17 in Los Angeles, California. 

Over the course of two days, the forum brought together diplomatic envoys, consuls general, and business leaders from nearly 20 countries across five continents, creating a powerful platform to explore Olympic business opportunities and strengthen global cooperation.

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CIF Chairman Daniel Sieu emphasized:

“This is more than a conference—it’s a platform that transforms dialogue into projects, partnerships into investments, and vision into reality.”

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Christine Peterson, Senior International Trade & Investment Officer from the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, noted:

“The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will unlock unprecedented opportunities for businesses worldwide.”
CIF invited companies around the globe to engage early to capture procurement needs and long-term investment strategies tied to Olympic development.

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Distinguished speakers included:
   •    Dustin McDonald – Senior Business Development Officer, California Governor’s Office
   •    Richard Swanson – Senior Official, U.S. Department of Global Trade & FDI
   •    Colleen Bell – Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Executive Director of the California Film Commission
   •    Rebecca Holden – Internationally Renowned Actress
   •    Brian Leu – Global Investment Director, CalPERS
   •    Dr. Crystal Dilworth – AAAS STEM Ambassador
   •    Christine Peterson – Senior Advisor, Los Angeles Mayor’s Office

CIF Executive Committee Jason Gahari served as Forum Host and guided discussions across five core domains:
   •    Healthcare & Medical Innovation
   •    Clean Energy & Hydrogen Solutions
   •    Film, Media & Content Technology
   •    Olympic Economy & 2028 Opportunities
   •    AI Commercialization from Caltech Teams

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CIF 2025 Innovation Awards Gala, winners included:
   •    Eddie Barber — Entertainment Tech Innovation
   •    Skingenix, Inc. — Medical & Health Innovation
   •    NextWave Energy Monitoring — Green Energy Innovation

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California State Treasurer Fiona Ma delivered a powerful keynote address at the Opening Ceremony and Awards Gala:

“California is not just the engine of America’s economy—it is the global epicenter for innovation, sustainability, and opportunity.”
She urged global partners to deepen collaboration through CIF in artificial intelligence, clean energy, medical technology, and film/media, while reaffirming the state’s commitment to providing a stable, fair, and opportunity-rich environment for international investors.

Highlights