Investment in Landlocked Developing Countries

High-level meeting
in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (UN-OHRLLS)
Date
-
Event
Session Type
Conference
Room number
Room IX
16 October 2014
12:00 - 15:00 Europe/Zurich
Europe/Zurich

Foreign direct investment (FDI) to Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) has been historically small but is on the rise with TNCs from the South continuing to be the main source. Many LLDCs have improved their investment climate and opened up sectors to foreign investment, but larger FDI inflows to LLDCs are often dominated by extractive industries. In this Forum, participants analyzed current developments and trends in investment flows and explored what needs to be done to increase the flow and impact of FDI to sustainable development in LLDCs.

Directly after the meeting, a brief ceremony was hold for the Launch of the UNCTAD Investment Guide to the Silk Road 2014.

Elements for the debate

  • How can LLDC governments further increase FDI inflows and direct them to investment projects in manufacturing, services and infrastructure where rising income levels create new opportunities?
  • How can FDIs including extractive industries help reach Sustainable Development Goals in LLDCs
  • Many LLDCs have been struggling to attract FDI; is regional integrating a game changer?
  • What are the challenges companies typically face when investing in LLDCs?

Speaker(s)

Secretary-General of UNCTAD
United Nations Under-Secretary-General, UN-OHRLLS
Minister of Economic Affairs of Bhutan
Minister of Commerce, Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Handicrafts of Central African Republic
Minister of Industry of Ethiopia
Minister of Economy of Kyrgyzstan
Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives and Marketing of Lesotho
Minister of Industry and Investment Promotion of Mali
Minister of Commerce and Private Sector Development, Niger
Minister of Trade and Industry, Rwanda
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia
Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Zimbabwe
Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Vice Minister for Economic Relations and Integration of Paraguay
Chairman & CEO, the Energy Transport Group Companies
Chairperson, YooMee Africa
Head of External Affairs, Europe & North America, Vale International SA
Vice-President, Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Permanent Representative at the United Nations, International Chamber of Commerce
Director, Investment and Enterprise Division, UNCTAD
Minister of Economy of Kyrgyzstan
Assistant Minister of Commerce, China