Key findings:
- India and ASEAN were the most buoyant recipients of the Foreign direct investment (FDI), with increases of 10 and 5%, respectively.
- FDI inflows were higher in developing countries compared with those in developed economies.
- China, the second largest FDI host country in the world, saw a 5% increase.
- FDI in the Gulf region declined, but the number of project announcements increased by two thirds.
- Inflows in many smaller developing countries were stagnant, and FDI to the least developed countries (LDCs) declined.
- Much of the growth in international investment in renewable energy has been concentrated in developed countries.
- The investment gap across all sectors of the Sustainable Development Goals has increased to more than $4 trillion per year from $2.5 trillion in 2015.
- The largest gaps are in energy, water and transport infrastructure.
Key facts about the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
- It is a permanent inter-governmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964.
- It is responsible for dealing with development issues, particularly international trade.
- Framing policies in various domains such as trade, technology, finance, aid, and transport are the most important priorities of UNCTAD.
- The Conference ordinarily meets once in four years.
- The second UNCTAD Conference took place in New Delhi, India in 1968.
- Members: 195 countries
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Reports published by the UNCTAD: Trade and Development Report, The Least Developed Countries Report and Commodities and Development Report etc.
