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COVID-19 Publications

IPA Observer 11: Promoting investment in health post-pandemic: A global trend?

 
  • As a result of increased demand and policy focus post-pandemic, investment promotion agencies (IPAs) are promoting new investments in the health sector. At the same time, they continue to be important actors in efforts by governments across the world to fight the sanitary crisis and mitigate its economic effects.

World Investment Report 2021: Investing in sustainable recovery

 
  • Global flows of foreign direct investment have been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, they fell by one third to $1 trillion, well below the low point reached after the global financial crisis a decade ago. Greenfield investments in industry and new infrastructure investment projects in developing countries were hit especially hard.

SDG Investment Trends Monitor (Issue 3): Progress since 2015 in promoting SDG investment in developing economies now at risk due to COVID-19

 
  • International private sector investment flows to developing and transition economies in sectors relevant for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) fell by one third in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of newly announced greenfield investments in relevant sectors shrunk by 33% and that of international project finance (used for large infrastructure projects requiring multiple investors) by 36%.

SDG Investment Trends Monitor (Issue 2): International SDG investment flows to developing economies down by one third due to COVID-19

 
  • International private sector investment flows to developing and transition economies in sectors relevant for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) are on course to fall by about one third in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first three quarters of the year, the value of newly announced greenfield investments shrunk by 40% and that of international project finance (used for large infrastructure projects requiring multiple investors) by 15%.

World Investment Report 2020: International Production Beyond the Pandemic

 
  • Global flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) will be under severe pressure this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These vital resources are expected to fall sharply from 2019 levels of $1.5 trillion, dropping well below the trough reached during the global financial crisis and undoing the already lackluster growth in international investment over the past decade. Flows to developing countries will be hit especially hard, as export-oriented and commodity-linked investments are among the most seriously affected.

Investment Policy Monitor: Special Issue – Investment Policy Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

 
  • Investment policies make an important contribution in tackling the devastating economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous countries around the globe have taken measures in support of investment or for protecting critical domestic industries in the crisis

Investment Policy Monitor No. 23 

 
  • The global spread of COVID-19 exerts impact on foreign investment policies. The devastating economic effects of the pandemic are expected to drive down global FDI flows by 40%, to its lowest level of the past two decades. Policy response varies from country to country. Many have adopted a series of policy measures aimed at supporting investors and their economies in general or are planning to do so. Others have put in place measures to protect critical domestic infrastructure and industries, particularly in the health sector. The crisis may also have implications for the negotiations of international investment agreements. More generally, the G20, G7 as well as some other groupings have issued statements in support of investment and global value chains. All this will also have lasting impact on future investment policymaking.

Global Investment Trend Monitor, No. 35 [Special Coronavirus Edition]

 
  • The outbreak and spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) will cause a dramatic drop in global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. Since our first Special Issue on the impact of the pandemic (early March), updated economic impact estimates and earnings revisions of the largest multinational enterprises (MN Es) now suggest that the downward pressure on FOi could be -30% to -40% during 2020-2021.

Global Investment Trend Monitor, No. 34 [Special Coronavirus Edition]

 
  • The outbreak and spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) will negatively affect global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. With scenarios of the spread of the epidemic ranging from short-term stabilization to continuation throughout the year, the downward pressure on FDI will be -5% to -15% (compared to previous forecasts projecting marginal growth in the FDI trend for 2020-2021).

The IPA Observer: Post-COVID-19: Investment Promotion Agencies and the “New Normal”

 

 
  • The current COVID-19 crisis has brought to light the critical role of investment promotion agencies (IPAs). They have shown agility and reactiveness in supporting the evolving needs of investors during the pandemic and have been instrumental and valuable to governments as intermediaries between the public and private sector. 

The IPA Observer: Investment Promotion agencies striving to overcome the COVID-19 challenge

 

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has generated important challenges for investment promotion agencies (IPAs) forcing them to shift focus from routine investment promotion and facilitation towards crisis management, notification of investors of government emergency and economic relief measures, provision of crisis support services, and contribution to national COVID-19 business response efforts. All this is done while agencies have closed offices, moved functions online and asked staff to work from home.

Transnational Corporation Journal Volume 27, No. 1

 
  • Economic impact estimates and earnings revisions of the 5,000 largest multinational
    enterprises (MNEs) as reviewed by UNCTAD, suggest that the downward pressure
    on FDI could be -30 per cent to -40 per cent in 2020 and 2021. The top 5,000
    multinationals now forecast downward revisions of their 2020 earnings estimates
    of -30 per cent on average with peaks of as much as -200 per cent in the most
    affected industries (energy -208 per cent, airlines -116 per cent and automotives
    -47 per cent)

Digital Government, COVID-19 Business Facilitation

 
  • Faced with a global pandemic, countries have been using UNCTAD’s online digital government platform, known as eRegistrations, to continue providing essential services to SMEs while their offices have been closed.

How UNCTAD’s E-Government Platform Helps Countries Stay Open for Business during Covid-19

 
  • Faced with the challenge of a global pandemic countries are using UNCTAD’s egovernment platform so they can continue providing essential services and new COVID-19 fiscal rescue measures to businesses though online single windows while offices are closed.

Examples of Capacity-Building Programmes in the Area of Investment and Enterprise for Development – COVID-19

 
  • UNCTAD’s investment promotion capacity building programme helps countries to improve policies and institutional capacity for attracting and retaining foreign direct investment for sustainable development. Assistance is provided through advisory services and training. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the investment promotion programme has focused its efforts on assisting investment promotion agencies (IPAs) in dealing with the crisis.

UNCTAD-WHO Global Webinar on Invest in Quality Local Production in Low-Income Countries to Address Supply Bottlenecks during the Pandemic

 
  • UNCTAD and WHO on 23 April 2020 organized a webinar on investment in quality local
    production to address supply bottlenecks related to the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. The event, which was attended by 127 participants online, was opened by James Zhan, Director of UNCTAD’s Investment and Enterprise Division, and Emer Cooke, Director of WHO’s Regulation and Prequalification Department. Both emphasized the importance and potential of local pharmaceutical production to respond to Covid-19-related supply bottlenecks through effective partnerships between low income country-based producers, foreign investors, host country governments and development partners.
 
  • Opening statement by James Zhan, Director, Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD