Global FDI set to partially recover but uncertainty remains
UNCTAD Update (19-25 June 2021)
Our latest news, thought leadership and events
News
UNCTAD released our annual World Investment Report this week. It shows that global foreign direct investment is set to partially recover in 2021 but uncertainty remains. In 2020, investment flows plunged globally by 35%. The fall was heavily skewed towards developed economies. Read the report highlights here in English, Français or Español.
Also, read more regional focused news from the World Investment report here:
- Foreign direct investment in Latin America plunges by 45%
- Investment flows to developing Asia defy COVID-19, grow by 4%
- COVID-19 slashes foreign direct investment in Africa by 16%
Preparations are also underway for UNCTAD15. As part of the scene-setting for UNCTAD's quadrennial conference in October, policymakers and experts met this month and called on UNCTAD to play a leading role in research, finance and technical assistance to conserve and sustainably use the ocean and marine resources. Find out what the messages were here.
Also in preparation for UNCTAD15, a meeting on building productive capacities critical for least developed countries yielded a similar call. This after COVID-19 has heightened the need to boost productive capacities for an inclusive socio-economic recovery in the world's poorest nations. Read more.
Then, this week UNCTAD launched a new course to help ports around the globe keep ships moving and goods flowing while protecting workers from the current and future pandemics. More here.
Our groundbreaking e-commerce partnership also grew this month by two members. The British Standards Institution and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East-Asia have joined the UNCTAD-led eTrade for all initiatives. Find out about the impact they aim to make.
Upcoming events
Trade and Development Board, 21 June-02 July 2021
Join the sixty-eighth session of the Board next week. The high-level segment will look at the impact of COVID-19 on trade and development and the list of LDCs’ priorities on the road to LDC5, followed by a general debate. For more information visit our site and register for the event.
Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (MSMEs): Key to an inclusive and sustainable recovery - 28 June, 8am to 10:30am
This MSME Day 2021 virtual event will focus on placing MSMEs at the centre of resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery and growth after COVID-19. Achieving the SDGs, and an economy that is greener and fairer, requires resilient and flourishing MSMEs everywhere. Register here for this important event.
Visit UNCTAD's meeting page for more events like these.
Research
Productive Capacities Policy Brief
Get our latest policy brief: Placing productive capacities at the heart of least developed countries’ development policy and strategy: A call for change ahead of UNCTAD XV, UNLDC V and beyond. Download it here.
Visit the New York office website
This newsletter was prepared by UNCTAD New York Office of the Secretary-General
Email: UNCTADNY2@un.org
Visit our dedicated website page for more on UNCTAD’s work in monitoring the effects of the global pandemic on manufacturing, trade, foreign direct investment, and economic growth and new resources we offer to address them.