New York and Geneva, 2018
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
INVESTMENT AND NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICIES
2018
WORLD
INVESTMENT
REPORT
iiWorld Investment Report 2018 Investment and New Industrial Policies
NOTE
UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION
Sales No. E.18.II.D.4
ISBN 978-92-1-112926-7
eISBN 978-92-1-045178-9
ISSN 1020-2218
CopyrightUnited Nations, 2018
All rights reserved
Printed at United Nations, Geneva
The UNCTAD Investment and Enterprise Division is the focal point in the United Nations
System for investment and enterprise development. As a global centre of excellence,
the Division conducts leading-edge research and policy analysis, provides technical
assistance to 160 member States and regional groupings, and builds international
consensus among the 196 member States of the organization. Its mission is to promote
investment and enterprise for sustainable and inclusive development.
The Division provides, among others,
The copyright of the material in this publication rests with UNCTAD. It may be freely
quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgement is requested, together with a reference to
UNCTAD and this Report. A copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint
should be sent to the UNCTAD Secretariat (e-mail: diaeinfo@unctad).
Two fagship products:
World Investment Report
World Investment Forum
Six key policy frameworks:
Investment Policy Framework for
Sustainable Development
Action Plan for Investing in the SDGs
Entrepreneurship Policy Framework
Reform Package for the International
Investment Regime
Global Action Menu for Investment Facilitation
Accounting Development Tool
Seven core services:
Investment databases and research
National and international
investment policies
Investment promotion
Responsible investment
Business facilitation
Entrepreneurship development
Accounting and reporting
Information about these products, frameworks and services, as well as the publications
of the Division, can be found free of charge at UNCTAD’s website (unctad/diae)
or the organization’s investment policy hub ( investmentpolicyhub.unctad).
iiiPreface
PREFACE
Global fows of foreign direct investment fell by 23 per cent in 2017. Cross-border
investment in developed and transition economies dropped sharply, while growth
was near zero in developing economies. With only a very modest recovery
predicted for 2018, this negative trend is a long-term concern for policymakers
worldwide, especially for developing countries, where international investment
is indispensable for sustainable industrial development.
This troubling global investment picture underscores the importance of a
conducive global investment environment, characterized by open, transparent
and non-discriminatory investment policies. The theme chapter of the report
shows that over 100 countries have adopted industrial development strategies
in recent years. New types of industrial policies have emerged, responding to
the opportunities and challenges associated with a new industrial revolution.
The report presents options for investment policy tools in this new environment.
I commend this year’s
World Investment Report
as a timely contribution to an
important debate in the international investment and development community.
Antnio Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations。