FDI Trends2006 2007 Unctad

UNITED
NATIONS TD
United Nations Distr.
GENERAL
Conference
TD(XI)/BP/5
on Trade and 27 April 2004
Development ENGLISH ONLY
Eleventh session
São Paulo, 13–18 June 2004
Prospects for FDI Flows, Transnational Corporation Strategies

and Promotion Policies: 2004–2007
Global Investment Prospects Assessment (GIPA) Research Note 1:
Results of a survey of location experts
Executive summary
International investment location experts in foreign direct investment (FDI) are

optimistic about the prospects for global FDI flows during the next four years. Their
optimism extends to almost all geographical regions, but in varying degrees. Overall,
they are optimistic about FDI prospects in the manufacturing sector, especially in food
and beverages, motor vehicles and other transport equipment, electrical and electronic
products, and machinery and equipment. In the services sector, location experts have
confidence in the recovery of FDI in transport, banking and insurance, business
services and tourism. China and India are the hot spots for FDI, followed by the United
States, Thailand, Poland, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Malaysia, the United Kingdom,
Singapore and the Republic of Korea. All countries are expected to intensify their
efforts to attract FDI, reflecting increased competition worldwide for FDI projects.
This document presents the key findings of the UNCTAD–Corporate Location 2004
worldwide survey of 87 international direct investment location experts.
GE.04-51011
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Contents
Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 4
Prospects for FDI flows ........................................................................................................................... 4
Future bright spots ................................................................................................................................... 5
FDI prospects by industry ........................................................................................................................ 6
Prospects for the relocation of corporate functions................................................................................ 12
Prospects for modes of investment ........................................................................................................ 13
FDI policy developments ....................................................................................................................... 14
UNCTAD's Global Investment Prospects Assessment.......................................................................... 16

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Acknowledgements
The Global Investment Location Expert Survey was conducted by a team led by James X. Zhan and
Ludger Odenthal and also including Frank Roger, Samantha Dolet, Anne Rijntjes and Jayanti Gupta.
Persephone Economou and Padma Mallampally assisted in the drafting of this research note. The data
for the survey were collected by Samuel Passow and Jonathan Cobb, editor and deputy editor
(respectively) of Corporate Location magazine in London.
UNCTAD would like to express its appreciation to the respondents for their participation in the expert
survey. Their kind cooperation and the valuable information they provided were indispensable for the
assessment of FDI prospects. For a list of experts who participated in the survey, see
www.unctad.org/fdiprospects.
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Introduction
The survey of international FDI location experts was conducted by UNCTAD and the editorial staff of
Corporate Location in January–February 2004, when global FDI was still reeling from the FDI
recession that marked the period beginning in 2001. The recession had ended an unprecedented run of
ever-increasing annual FDI flows during much of the preceding decade. Prospects for 2004, however,
indicate that an FDI recovery is in sight.
UNCTAD's survey of international location experts aims to assess future developments in FDI in
order to provide information relevant for policy makers in charge of devising promotion policies and
regulatory frameworks for FDI. The survey is coordinated with two related worldwide surveys carried
out by UNCTAD: a survey of the largest transnational corporations (TNCs) in the developed and,
separately, in the developing world, and a survey of national investment promotion agencies (IPAs).
The findings of each of these surveys will be published separately.
Respondents to the survey covered here are international location experts closely involved as
consultants, advisers and/or analysts in the investment location decision-making processes of TNCs.
The diverse mix of industries and the array of countries and regions represented by the respondents
ensure that the survey is not biased regarding any particular industry or region. The sample size (87
international experts) proved sufficiently large for identifying clear trends.
The survey attempts to answer the following questions:
• What are the general expectations concerning FDI prospects in the near future?
• What are the expected patterns in terms of industry and region?
• What are the expected strategies by TNCs in relocation of their corporate functions and
mode of investment?
• What are the expected trends in terms of policy responses by Governments?
Prospects for FDI flows

The large majority of location experts are optimistic about the prospects for FDI. Roughly four out of
five experts surveyed believe that FDI prospects will improve, not just in the short term (2004–2005)
but also in the medium term (2006–2007) (see Figure 1). The survey results suggest that experts are
on balance slightly more optimistic about the medium term, as the percentage of respondents
predicting worsened prospects for the period 2006–2007 is somewhat lower than that for 2004–2005.
The differences by region are relatively small. There is less optimism regarding short-term prospects
for Africa than for the other regions. However, for the longer term, there is a remarkable reversal in
experts’ opinions of Africa’s FDI prospects, as the “improved” responses increase to more than 80 per
cent, positioning Africa squarely among the other regions. For Latin America, the reverse holds true:
optimistic responses about the region's FDI prospects in 2004–2005 exceed those for the period 2006–
2007. However, the majority of location experts foresee improved prospects for Latin America in both
periods.
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Figure 1. Prospects for FDI flows are positive in all regions
100
90
80
Percentage of Responses
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Worsen Improve Same Worsen Improve Same
2004 - 2005 2006 - 2007
Africa Asia Latin America

Developing Economies Central & Eastern Europe Developed Economies
Total
Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.
Future bright spots

China and India lead, followed by the United States, as the countries for which FDI prospects are
brightest (see Figure 2). In India, where FDI flows have been low, location experts expect a major
surge. For many developed countries, especially in Europe, which have traditionally been among the
largest FDI recipients, prospects appear less bright than for certain developing countries such as
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea. Poland and the Czech Republic also make
the list of the most frequently mentioned countries with favourable FDI prospects, as they are
expected to benefit from accession to the European Union. Mexico is the only Latin American
country on this list.
For each region, experts ranked the countries they considered the top FDI locations in 2004–2005:
• In the developed world, the United States was the top expected location for FDI, followed
by the United Kingdom. Canada and France tied for third place.
• In Africa, South Africa, Angola and Tanzania occupy the top three spots. South Africa is
perceived as the most attractive location, while Angola and Tanzania are tied in second
place. These two least developed economies have bright prospects in natural resource
extraction industries, in Angola’s case particularly the petroleum industry.
• In Asia and the Pacific, China and India are the most attractive destinations for FDI in the
near future, with Thailand in third place.
• In Latin America, the traditional magnets for FDI inflows – Mexico, Brazil and Chile – are
expected by experts to continue to play that role, at least in the short term.
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• In Central and Eastern Europe, Poland and the Czech Republic occupy first and second
place, while Russia and Romania share third place.
FDI prospects by industry

Globally, experts are optimistic about FDI prospects in manufacturing industries such as food and
beverages, motor vehicles and other transport equipment, electrical and electronic products, and
machinery and equipment (see Figure 3).
Figure 2. The most attractive countries for FDI flows
Developing Central & Developed

economies Eastern Europe economies
Czech Republic
1 South Africa China Mexico China United States
Poland
Angola Brazil United

2 India India
Tanzania Chile Kingdom
Romania Canada
3 Thailand Thailand
Russia France
Global Ranking
1 China
2 India
3 United States
4 Thailand
5 Poland and the Czech Republic
6 ---
7 Mexico and Malaysia
8 ---
9 United Kingdom, Singapore and the Republic of Korea

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Figure 3. Globally, experts are more optimistic about manufacturing and services
Primary
sector Agriculture & other
Mining & petroleum
Food & beverages
Motor vehicles
Electrical & electronic products
Machinery
Manufacturing
Other industries
Chemicals
Publishing & media
Metals
Non-metallic products
Rubber & plastic products
Textiles & clothing
Other services
Transport
Banking & insurance
Business services
Tourism
Services
Construction
Retail & wholesale
Energy services
Computer/ICT
Hotels & restaurants
Education & health
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percentage of responses indicating increase
In the services sector, experts expect a recovery in transport, banking and insurance, business services
and tourism. They are pessimistic about future FDI flows into the primary sector. However, the
prospects vary from region to region:
• In the developed countries, electrical and electronic products and motor vehicles and other
transport equipment are the most attractive industries in the manufacturing sector, followed
by chemicals and machinery and equipment. In services, transport and business services are
the most attractive for FDI, followed by tourism, retail and wholesale trade, and computer-
related services (see Figure 4).
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Figure 4. Developed economies: transport will be the most attractive industry for
FDI, followed by business services and electrical and electronic products
Primary
Agricuture
sector
Mining & petroleum
Motor vehicles
Chemicals
Machinery
Manufacturing
Food & beverages
Publishing & media
Metals
Other industries
Textiles & clothing
Transport
Business services
Tourism
Retail & wholesale
Computer/ICT
Services
Energy services
Construction
Hotels & restaurant
Banking & insurance
Education & health
Other services
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
• In Africa, non-metallic products, food and beverages, textiles, clothing and leather are
expected to attract FDI. In the services sector, electricity, gas and water services and, to a
much lesser extent, banking and insurance will attract FDI flows (see Figure 5).
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Figure 5. In Africa, energy services and non-metallic products will be

very attractive for FDI
Primary
Agriculture & other

sector
Mining & petroleum

Food & beverages
Textiles & clothing
Motor vehicles
Manufacturing
Metals
Other industries
Machinery
Chemicals
Publishing & media
Energy services
Banking & insurance
Tourism
Construction
Retail & wholesale
Services
Computer/ICT
Hotels & restaurant
Business services
Transport
Education & health
Other services
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
• In Asia and the Pacific, optimism about FDI prospects is broad-based in terms of industries.
In the manufacturing sector, improved prospects are expected for motor vehicles and other
transport equipment, machinery and equipment, chemicals and, to a lesser extent, electrical
and electronic products, publishing and media, and printing and recording industries. In the
services sector, banking and insurance, business services, tourism, transportation, computer-
related services and retail and wholesale will take the lead in attracting FDI in coming years
(see Figure 6).
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Figure 6. Asia and the Pacific: almost all sectors should profit from an increase
in FDI
Primary Agriculture & othe r
sector
Mining & pe trole um
Motor ve hicle s
Machine ry
Che micals
O the r industrie s
Manufacturing
Ele ctrical & e le ctronic products
Publishing & me dia
Me tals
Non-me tallic products
Rubbe r & plastic products
Food & be ve rage s
Te xtile s & clothing
Banking & insurance
O the r se rvice s
Busine ss se rvice s
Tourism
Transport
Services
C ompute r/IC T
Re tail & whole sale
Hote ls & re staurants
Ene rgy se rvice s
Construction
Education & he alth
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Pe rce ntage of re sponse indicating incre ase
• Contrary to the global trend, in Latin America more natural-resource-based industries such
as metal products, mining and petroleum, and agriculture are expected to lead FDI recovery
in the region. Other industries that will attract FDI are non-metallic products, food and
beverages, chemicals, and the textiles, clothing and leather industries. In the services sector,
hotels and restaurants and tourism are expected to be attractive for FDI (see Figure 7). The
fact that, generally speaking, the respondents did not expect FDI in the primary sector to
have the same potential as in other sectors, may explain why for Latin America – unlike for
the other regions – experts are not very optimistic regarding longer-term FDI prospects.
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Figure 7. Latin America and the Caribbean: optimism about FDI increase in
primary sector
Mining & pe trole um

Primary
sector
Agriculture & othe r
Me tals
Non-me tallic products
Food & be ve rage s
Che micals
Manufacturing
Te xtile s & clothing
Machine ry
Rubbe r & plastic products
O the r industrie s
Publishing & me dia
Ele ctrical & e le ctronic products

Motor ve hicle s
Hote ls & re staurants
Tourism
Construction
O the r se rvice s
Transport
Services
Ene rgy se rvice s
C ompute r/IC T
Busine ss se rvice s
Banking & insurance
Re tail & whole sale

Education & he alth
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
In Central and Eastern Europe, FDI inflows are expected to increase in food and beverages, motor
vehicles and other transport equipment and, to a lesser extent, publishing and media, printing and
recording, and the electrical and electronics industries. The perception of improved prospects for FDI
in the services sector is broad-based and includes industries such as construction and real estate, retail
and wholesale trade, transport, education and health, business services, computer-related services, and
banking and insurance (see Figure 8).
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Figure 8. Central and Eastern Europe: FDI expected to increase in all services
industries
Primary
Mining & petroleum

sector
Agriculture & other

Food & beverages
Motor vehicles
Publishing & media
Other industries
Manufacturing

Machinery
Metals
Chemicals
Textiles & clothing
Construction
Retail & wholesale
Transport
Education & health
Business services
Services
Computer/ICT
Banking & insurance
Other services
Hotels & restaurants
Tourism
Energy services
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Prospects for the relocation of corporate functions

The relocation of corporate functions, in particular those associated with higher-value-added
activities, has become a topical issue, with reports in the press of companies relocating research and
development facilities or other “white-collar” activities abroad, especially to developing countries. In
this context, it is interesting that the FDI experts still see the bulk of relocations involving lower-
value-added corporate functions (see Figure 9). Overall, processing activities, followed by logistics
and supply functions, are the most frequently mentioned corporate functions likely to relocate abroad.
These results differ significantly by region. The relocation of higher-value-added functions such as
research and development was much more frequently mentioned in the case of developed countries
than developing countries. Processing is considered the most important function likely to be relocated
to developing countries, followed by logistics and supply activities.
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Interestingly, among regions, the developed countries and Asia have the most balanced profile,
implying that these regions are expected to attract FDI in all the different corporate functions. Most
developing regions, on the other hand, are expected to be much more specialized in their capacity to
attract FDI. For Africa and America, but also for the Central and Eastern European countries,
production stands out as the corporate function most likely to be attracted to these regions, followed,
at some distance, by supply and logistics.
Figure 9. FDI experts mentioned production as the most frequently relocated

corporate function
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Africa Asia Latin Developing Central & Developed Total
America Economies Eastern Economies
Europe
Production Distr./Sales R&D Reg. HQ Log./Sup. Others
Prospects for modes of investment

In general, the surveyed location experts expect firms to further internationalize their operations using
both greenfield operations and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) (see Figure 10). Overall, these two
options received a similar number of votes (about 40 per cent of the total) as the most likely mode of
entry by TNCs in the period 2004–2005. Other non-equity options such as licensing and strategic
alliances were mentioned by only some 20 per cent of experts.
The emerging picture is the same for almost all regions with the exception of Latin America. For all
other regions, greenfield FDI and M&As are seen as more or less equally important. For Latin
America, however, 80 per cent of experts foresee M&As as the dominant form of FDI into the region.
Here it is worth recalling that Latin America has the highest share of M&A-related FDI in total FDI
inflows in the developing world, which is partly a reflection of its privatization programme.
M&As were not frequently mentioned by location experts in the case of developed countries, where
they had been the driving force for the latest FDI boom. The failure of many such deals may be one
reason for this.
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Options other than FDI through greenfield operations and M&As are particularly frequently
mentioned in connection with Asia and Latin America (29 per cent in each case), which suggests that
the entrepreneurship and access to capital available in many countries of these regions and the kinds
of activities located there by foreign investors provide considerable scope for non-equity/contractual
arrangements between foreign and domestic firms.
Figure 10. Modes of investment: TNCs use different strategies for different
regions (2004-2005)
100
80
Percentage of Response
60
40
20
0
Africa Asia Latin Developing Central & Developed Global Total
America Economies Eastern Economies
Europe
Mergers & acquisitions Green-field FDI Others
FDI policy developments

The message emerging from this survey is that countries are expected to intensify their efforts to
attract FDI, reflecting increased competition worldwide for FDI projects. The number of experts who
expected countries to adopt no new measures to promote FDI in 2004–2005 was significantly lower
than the number of those who indicated having observed no such measures being implemented during
2003 (see Figures 11 and 12). The general expectation is that countries will become more active in
promoting FDI, in particular through further liberalization measures, additional incentives and
increased targeting (see Figure 12).
There are regional differences, of course. In Africa, for instance, more experts identified a preference
for additional incentives as opposed to greater targeting. In Central and Eastern Europe, the reverse
holds true. In developed countries, liberalization is expected to play a lesser role, while targeting and,
to a certain extent, additional incentives are expected to become more important.
The upshot, particularly for developing countries, is that increasingly sophisticated and possibly
resource-intensive policy measures are needed to retain existing FDI and attract new investment.
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Figure 11. Policy response: countries used further liberalization measures to attract
FDI in 2003
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
No new Additional Further Greater Other
measures incentives liberalisation targeting
2003
Total
Figure 12. Policy response: experts expect fiercer policy competition for FDI
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
measures
liberalisation
Additional
targeting
Other
incentives
Greater
No new
Further
2004-2005

Total

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UNCTAD’s Global Investment Prospects Assessment (GIPA)
The Global Investment Prospects Assessment (GIPA) is designed to assess short- and medium-terms
prospects for FDI. It analyses predicted future patterns of FDI flows at the global, regional, national
and industry levels from the perspectives of global investors, host countries and international FDI
experts. It also analyses evolving trends in the strategies of TNCs as well as FDI policies.
GIPA is designed to fill a research and policy analysis gap, equipping Governments and business
alike with a critical instrument for proactive development of policies and strategies, as opposed to
after-the-fact assessment of foreign investment facts.
In addition to its own research and policy analysis, UNCTAD bases its assessments on the findings of
three-part large-scale surveys:
• A worldwide survey of and follow-up interviews with the largest TNCs with headquarters in
developed and developing countries and in Central and Eastern Europe.
• A worldwide survey of and follow-up interviews with international FDI experts who
typically assist TNCs in their overseas location decisions (in collaboration with Corporate
Location magazine).
• A worldwide survey of national investment promotion agencies regarding their perception
of TNCs’ investment strategies and of FDI prospects for their respective countries and
regions.
These surveys complement each other and allow for direct comparison of the results obtained.
GIPA is managed by a team comprising:
James X. Zhan, Team Leader

Ludger Odenthal, Deputy Team Leader
Padma Mallampally, Senior Advisor
Persephone Economou, Senior Advisor
Frank Roger, Expert
Samantha Dolet, Assistant Researcher
Anne Rijntjes, Assistant Researcher
Chen Zhang, Assistant Researcher
Cristina Gueco, Assistant Researcher
Jayanti Gupta, Research Assistant
Mr. Karl Sauvant, Director of DITE, has provided guidance to the project.
For more information, please visit http://www-dev.unctad.org/fdiprospects or contact James X. Zhan

(+41 22 907 5797) or Ludger Odenthal (+41 22 907 6325) or e-mail fdisurvey@unctad.org.

FDI Trends2006 2007 Unctad

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UNITED

Prospects for FDI Flows, Transnational Corporation Strategies

International investment location experts in foreign direct investment (FDI) are

Prospects for FDI flows ........................................................................................................................... 4

Future bright spots ................................................................................................................................... 5

FDI prospects by industry ........................................................................................................................ 6

Prospects for the relocation of corporate functions................................................................................ 12

Prospects for modes of investment ........................................................................................................ 13

FDI policy developments ....................................................................................................................... 14

UNCTAD's Global Investment Prospects Assessment.......................................................................... 16

The survey attempts to answer the following questions:

Prospects for FDI flows

Figure 1. Prospects for FDI flows are positive in all regions

2004 - 2005 2006 - 2007

Africa Asia Latin America

Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.

Future bright spots

FDI prospects by industry

Figure 2. The most attractive countries for FDI flows

Developing Central & Developed

Angola Brazil United

Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.

Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.

Mining & petroleum

Electrical & electronic products

Food & beverages

Publishing & media

Rubber & plastic products

Textiles & clothing

Retail & wholesale

Hotels & restaurant

Banking & insurance

Education & health

Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.

Figure 5. In Africa, energy services and non-metallic products will be

Agriculture & other

Mining & petroleum

Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.

Ele ctrical & e le ctronic products

Publishing & me dia

Non-me tallic products

Rubbe r & plastic products

Food & be ve rage s

Te xtile s & clothing

Banking & insurance

Re tail & whole sale

Hote ls & re staurants

Ene rgy se rvice s

Education & he alth

Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.

Mining & pe trole um

Agriculture & othe r

Non-me tallic products

Food & be ve rage s

Te xtile s & clothing

Rubbe r & plastic products

Publishing & me dia

Ele ctrical & e le ctronic products

Hote ls & re staurants

Ene rgy se rvice s

Banking & insurance

Re tail & whole sale

Source: UNCTAD-DITE, Global Investments Prospects Assessment (GIPA) 2004.

Mining & petroleum