3 Review(s)

This publication, the 17th in a series of UNCTAD annual reports, analyses the latest trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) flows worldwide at the regional and country levels and examines emerging measures to improve its contribution to development. The 2007 report focuses on the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in the extraction of oil, gas, and metal minerals, looking at key countries and companies involved and how the forces driving investment change as raw materials progress up the value chain to become finished products, and as different types of companies participate. Findings include that global FDI inflows rose in 2006 for the third consecutive year, with growth shared by all major country groups (developed countries, developing countries and the transition-economies of South-East Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States). Rising demand for commodities was reflected in a steep increase in natural resource-related FDI, although the services sector continued to be the dominant recipient of FDI. Among the developing regions, FDI inflows to subregions such as North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and South-East Asia were at record levels, as were foreign investment flows to transition economies.