Division on Investment and Enterprise: Results and Impact Report 2024

In December 2023, Mr. James Zhan concluded his 15-year directorship of the Division on Investment and Enterprise. Below is an extract from his 2023 end-of-year message, which highlights some of the key achievements of the Division under his leadership.

The end of 2023 marks the completion of my decade-and-a-half directorship at the Investment and Enterprise Division… [this is an] opportunity to share with you my reflection on [the Division’s] strategic framework and major accomplishments during my tenure.

The Division’s new strategic orientation started at the time of the global financial crisis in 2008-2009. [The Division] championed a paradigm shift from “freedom of investment” to “investment for sustainable development” …. formulated a new generation of investment policy… [and] drove the reforms of the investment treaty regime and the modernization of national investment policies worldwide. [The Division] succeeded in filling the systemic gap in the global investment governance.

We adopted a “soft normative approach” to global investment policymaking...developed flexible and non-binding instruments and norms, such as frameworks, guiding principles, guidelines, model guidance, and voluntary codes. This approach enabled us to effectively navigate the complexities of global investment and development, fostering a virtuous cycle of evidence-based policymaking, international consensus building and technical assistance.

Our World Investment Report (WIR) has been a cornerstone of our work, effectively addressing key and emerging global challenges and opportunities. It played a key role in redefining mainstream policies and updating national and international investment strategies.

Our World Investment Forum, established in 2008, has grown into the world’s pre-eminent platform for investment and enterprise development. It has been instrumental in launching global initiatives, shaping global debates, formulating policies, and addressing various sectoral investment challenges.

Our World Investment Network has effectively connected over 100,000 investment- enterprise development stakeholders globally. [The Division has] also successfully launched a number of strategic alliances and fostered partnerships with different constituents of the global investment community. Together, they cover the entire spectrum of the global investment chain…None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication, expertise and hard work of the staff and managers of the Division. My deepest appreciation goes to all our colleagues…for their invaluable contributions to the division’s success...Together, we have forged a centre of excellence that effectively serves the global investment-enterprise community and significantly contributes to UNCTAD’s vision of sustainable development and prosperity for all.

November 2023