Foreign Direct Investment

The world needs increased investment flows to drive economic transformation in energy, infrastructure, agrifood and health sectors to ensure sustainable development.

UNCTAD's 8th World Investment Forum underscored the sector's pivotal role in bridging the $4 trillion annual investment gap developing countries face to achieve the Global Goals, especially for food security and biodiversity protection.

It issued the call at the 8th World Investment Forum, underscoring the vital need for capital in developing countries, where substantial growth opportunities exist.

The UN Secretary-General calls for the public and private sectors to deliver $500 billion a year in affordable, long-term financing to developing countries.

The UNCTAD forum brings together over 8,000 participants, heads of state, government ministers, sovereign wealth fund managers, private sector executives, stock exchanges, media, academics, investment treaty negotiators and heads of international organizations in more than 130 events to revitalize investments to meet development needs.

More than 7,000 stakeholders from 160 countries will convene in Abu Dhabi from 16 to 20 October to revitalize global investment flows across critical sectors.

The report outlines pathways to transforming the South Asian economy through diversification and innovation.

COP28’s second preparatory Global Dialogue and Investment-Focused Event will be held together with the forum, taking place in Abu Dhabi in October.

The World Investment Report 2023 shows developing countries need renewable energy investments of about $1.7 trillion annually but attracted only $544 billion in 2022.

UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023 shows that flows remained concentrated in a few economies, with the top five recipients accounting for 83% of total foreign direct investment to the group.