Investment Trends

UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2022 indicates FDI rebounded to nearly $1.6 trillion last year but warns this course is unlikely to be sustained in 2022.

UNCTAD brings together various stakeholders to discus how special economic zones contribute to economic diversification and sustainable development in Africa.

The report suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic set off a further crisis in early 2020 that is expected to be deeper and more consequential in many countries than the Global Financial Crisis of 2008/2009.

Investment flows plunged globally by 35% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis. The fall was heavily skewed towards developed economies.

COVID-19 recovery investment plans largely focus on infrastructure sectors that are key to building productive capacities.

The value of sustainability-themed investment products amounted to $3.2 trillion in 2020, up more than 80% from 2019.

The region suffered the sharpest decline in foreign investment flows to developing countries in 2020.

UNCTAD says uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic’s evolution and the global investment policy environment will continue to affect FDI flows in 2021. For developing countries, the prospects for 2021 are a major concern.

A special issue of UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor presents the latest developments in national and international investment policies in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign direct investment fell slightly from US$1.41 trillion in 2018 to $1.39 trillion in 2019. Flows to developed countries decreased by 6%, while those to developing economies were unchanged.