FDI inflows to Ireland more than doubled in 2002 over the previous year, from $9.7 billion to $24.4 billion, making it one of the top 10 FDI recipients worldwide. The performance is even more impressive given that the country was one of the few to boast such an increase, which runs counter to the global downward trend for 2001-2002. Outflows, however, declined by more than a quarter in 2002.
Foreign direct investment both into and from Ireland primarily involves other developed nations, with the EU accounting for about three quarters of inflows and one third of outflows. The country´s FDI stock is also quite concentrated, two thirds of it coming from the Netherlands, the US and the UK. That stock has grown rapidly over the past two decades, from $32 billion in 1980 to $157 billion in 2002. FDI plays a capital role in the Irish economy: the ratio of inflows to gross fixed capital formation is 80% (1999-2002 average), and the value of inward stock largely exceeds that of GDP.
There were more than 500 industrial foreign affiliates in Ireland in 2000, with more than 120,000 employees, mainly in electrical equipment, chemicals and the publishing and printing industries. Those foreign affiliates accounted for a large share of the country´s total exports (about 90% in 1999); two thirds of its top 100 exporters are foreign entities.
National investment profiles are being published online as they become available, based on each country´s reporting schedules. The profiles, which are part of UNCTAD´s World Investment Directory, provide quick electronic access to the latest statistics on foreign direct investment (FDI) and the operations of transnational corporations (TNCs). They include statistical definitions and sources, a listing of relevant national laws and regulations, information on bilateral and multilateral agreements and a bibliography.
