Investment flows
With falling foreign direct investment, investment-promoting regimes increasingly more important to reach the SDGs
Bridging the financing gap to achieve the SDGsSustainable Development Goals and facilitate long-term economic transformation requires effective mobilization and utilization of various financing sources. Many developing economies face challenges in mobilizing sufficient funds, often hindered by their inability to secure affordable borrowing for investment. As they transition to higher income groups, losing eligibility for concessional finance (or part thereof) can exacerbate these challenges, creating a greater incentive to engage in South-South cooperation, but also reliance on private financial markets.
Continued decline in foreign direct investment to developing economies
Global FDIForeign Direct Investment (FDI) is an investment involving a long-term relationship and reflecting a lasting interest and control by a resident entity in one economy (foreign direct investor or parent enterprise) in an enterprise resident in an economy other than that of the foreign direct investor (FDI enterprise or affiliate enterprise or foreign affiliate) -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-. flows reached an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2024, an apparent increase of 4%. However, this headline figure is distorted by financial flows routed through European conduit economies1. Excluding these intermediary flows, global FDI actually fell by about 11% year-on-year -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-. Global volatility of FDI appears to be flatlining in recent years, however FDI flows to developing economies, after having exhibited a flat trend since 2010, experienced a sharp increase in 2021-2022 (figure 1). 2023 saw a drop in FDI and 2024 remained flat compared to the year before for the global South, undermining progress on the SDGs, as these economies rely heavily on international financing. FDI declines in 2024 were observed in Latin America and the Caribbean (12%) and Asia (3%), while FDI increased in Africa, a record 75% rise -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-.
Figure 1. Since the start of the 2030 Agenda, the only major FDI inflow jump to developing economies (2021-2022) is now losing momentumSource: -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-.
GreenfieldGreenfield FDI is a new investment made by setting up a new foreign affiliate (as opposed to acquiring or leasing existing facilities). project announcements, primarily in industrial sectors, saw a moderate increase of 3% in number, yet fell 5% in value. Despite the drop, the value of greenfield projects remained high ($1.3 trillion), second only to the 2023 record value, driven primarily by investments in data centres and data processing. -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-
Investments in SDG-related sectors dropped sharply, by more than a quarter in 2024. Investment flows to developing economies for infrastructure fell 35%, renewable energy 31%, water and sanitation 30%, and agrifood systems 19%. Only the health and education sector saw growth (25%) -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-. This underscores the persisting gap in attracting FDI to developing economies.
Facilitating outward foreign direct investment key to achieving the SDGs
Mobilizing private sector finance is crucial to achieve the SDGs, with FDI playing a key role. FDI promotion is not solely the objective and responsibility of host economies; home economies can also support investment in developing economies and LDCsLeast developed countries through dedicated OFDIOutward foreign direct investment promotion schemes. In this regard, SDG indicator 17.5.1 tracks the number of economies with OFDI promotion schemes for developing economies, including LDCs.
In 2024, at least 51 economies, including 21 emerging or developing economies, had in place at least one type of investment promotion mechanism for OFDI. This represented 71 per cent of developed economies and 15 per cent of developing economies. Among the economies with OFDI promotion mechanisms, an increasing number (27) had adopted schemes specifically targeting developing economies, including least developed economies. Globally, the most common mechanisms supporting OFDI were investment facilitation services (44 economies), followed by fiscal and financial support (38 economies), investment guarantees (35 economies) and State equity participation in foreign investment projects (25 economies) (figure 2).
Figure 2. Also in 2024, outward FDI promotion schemes towards developing economies, including LDCs, are predominantly provided by developed economiesSource: -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-.
Notes
- Several European economies, including Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland, where FDI statistics are significantly affected by conduit financial flows, reported large fluctuations and negative numbers in 2023 and 2024. Fewer negative numbers in 2024 exerted a net positive effect on global flows of about $230 billion. -—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—--—
– ‒
- –
—-
References
Donec tincidunt vel mauris a dignissim. Curabitur sodales nunc id vestibulum tempor. Nunc tortor orci, sodales nec eros eget.
Donec tincidunt vel mauris a dignissim. Curabitur sodales nunc id vestibulum tempor. Nunc tortor orci, sodales nec eros eget.
Donec tincidunt vel mauris a dignissim. Curabitur sodales nunc id vestibulum tempor. Nunc tortor orci, sodales nec eros eget.
Donec tincidunt vel mauris a dignissim. Curabitur sodales nunc id vestibulum tempor. Nunc tortor orci, sodales nec eros eget.
Donec tincidunt vel mauris a dignissim. Curabitur sodales nunc id vestibulum tempor. Nunc tortor orci, sodales nec eros eget.