Governments adopted a record 229 investment policy measures in 2025.Most measures remained favourable to investors, but increasingly targeted strategic sectors and national priorities.Incentives accounted for half of favourable measures, with growing focus on digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy-transition technologies and critical minerals.The number of economies with investment screening regimes rose from 21 in 2016 to 52 in 2025, while outright rejections remained rare.Old-generation investment agreements remain central to disputes, strengthening the case for reform that preserves policy space while maintaining predictability for investors.
Strategic sectors accounted for 44% of global greenfield investment in 2025, up from 16% in 2020.The value of announced projects in these sectors rose from $109 billion to $576 billion over five years.In 2025, the top three investor economies accounted for 72% of strategic-sector project values, while the top three recipients captured 56%.Low-income and lower-middle-income economies attracted only about 10% of global greenfield investment in strategic sectors between 2020 and 2025, compared with more than 20% in other sectors.
Foreign direct investment rose 14% to $188 billion in 2025.Brazil accounted for much of the increase, with inflows rising from $63 billion to $77 billion.The region's top 10 recipients captured 95% of regional inflows.The value of announced greenfield projects fell by about one-third, signalling a weaker pipeline of future productive projects.
Developing Asia attracted $644 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, remaining the world's largest developing-region recipient.South-East Asia overtook East Asia as the region's largest recipient subregion.India recorded a 44% increase in inflows, helping drive growth in South Asia.FDI remains highly concentrated, with eight of the ten largest developing-economy recipients located in Asia.
Africa attracted about $70 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, the third-highest level since 1990.Despite a decline from the exceptional level reached in 2024, inflows remained roughly one-third above the continent's long-term average.Greenfield project values fell by almost one third, but the number of announced projects increased, pointing to broader engagement through smaller projects.Investors from the Gulf and other Asian economies are becoming important sources of greenfield investment, especially in energy, logistics, real estate and infrastructure.African least developed countries (LDCs) received about $33 billion in FDI, with inflows concentrated in a few economies linked to natural resources, energy, infrastructure and selected manufacturing projects.Energy, infrastructure and critical minerals are drawing investment, but benefits remain concentrated in a limited number of countries and sectors.
Global foreign direct investment rose 6% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, ending two years of decline.The recovery remains fragile and uneven: inflows to developed economies rose 11%, while developing economies recorded only 2% growth, reaching $901 billion.Much of the increase reflected a small number of megaprojects, especially in AI-related digital infrastructure.The world’s top 20 host economies attracted more than 80% of global FDI, while strategic sectors accounted for 44% of global greenfield project values, up from 16% in 2020.FDI remains a major source of external finance for developing economies, but its development impact depends on whether it builds productive capacity, jobs, skills and technology transfer.The outlook for 2026 remains clouded by trade policy uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, conflicts, high financing costs and economic fragmentation.
Strengthening institutions across the region will ultimately determine whether industrial policy delivers productive transformation, resilience and sustainable growth.
At the Türkiye Maritime Summit in Istanbul, senior leaders from the maritime sector discussed how geopolitical tensions, climate-related disruptions and other global crises are reshaping maritime trade and supply chains.
The State of Qatar and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) today announced that the 9th World Investment Forum (WIF) will be held in Doha, Qatar, from 25 to 27 October 2026. Picture: H.E. Ambassador Hend Al Muftah, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Geneva; H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development, Nan Li Collins, Director, Division on Investment and Enterprise and Head of the World Investment Forum, UN Trade and Development. The announcement was made jointly by H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar and UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, on the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.WIF is the world’s leading platform for investment and development, convening stakeholders from more than 160 countries, including heads of state, ministers, CEOs, business leaders, sovereign wealth fund executives and representatives of international organizations.Investing in the futureUnder the theme ‘Investing in the Future’, WIF 2026 will examine how investment and finance systems must evolve in response to geopolitical fragmentation, climate urgency and rapid technological change. The Forum will look beyond short-term capital flows to focus on long-term value creation, productive capacity, and economic resilience.WIF 2026 will advance key global initiatives, by linking high-level policy dialogue to concrete action.“At a time of growing fragmentation and uncertainty, investment must once again become a driver of shared prosperity,” said UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. “WIF 2026 will focus on how to align capital with long-term development, resilience, and opportunity.“We are proud to announce Qatar as the host of the World Investment Forum 2026. We intend for Doha to be a place of action, where public and private actors come together to shape the future of investment. We stand ready to partner with UNCTAD on this journey.” said H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar.A platform for action“At World Investment Forum, public and private leaders work together to turn long-term vision into investment action” said Nan Li Collins, Director of Investment and Enterprise at UNCTAD and Head of the World Investment Forum.The Forum’s programme will include the Global Leaders Investment Summit, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Global Dialogue, the Investment and Enterprise Ministerial Roundtable, and sessions on climate finance, digital transformation, and inclusive growth.Further details on the programme, participation and registration will be announced in due course and shared via the World Investment Forum website.UN Trade and Development and the State of Qatar look forward to welcoming the global investment community to Doha in October 2026. View the WIF video here.About the World Investment ForumThe World Investment Forum is the United Nations’ leading platform for investment and development, organized biennially by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Since 2008, WIF has convened heads of state, ministers, CEOs, sovereign wealth fund executives, stock exchange leaders, and the international investment community to address pressing challenges in investment for sustainable development. Visit worldinvestmentforum.unctad.orgAbout UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)UN Trade and Development helps developing countries benefit from the global economy more fairly and effectively, providing research, analysis, technical assistance, and consensus-building support on trade, investment, finance, and technology. Visit unctad.org
The flagship UN platform will scale solutions and partnerships to power sustainable investment globally, ensuring finance fosters inclusive growth and shared prosperity.The 9th World Investment Forum will be hosted by Qatar in 2026, Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan announced on 22 October during the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) underway in Geneva, Switzerland.Held biennially by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the forum is the leading global platform for investment and development.The 2026 forum will tackle the world’s most pressing investment challenges at a critical moment of global uncertainty, climate pressure, digital transformation and economic fragmentation.The need for inclusive growth, resilient economies and climate-smart finance is greater than ever.“Investment is about trust – trust in the future, trust in partnership, trust in shared prosperity,” said Secretary-General Grynspan.“How can we forge multi-stakeholder coalitions that channel sustainable finance where it's needed most.”The 2026 forum will build on the deliberations of UNCTAD16, notably its Business Leaders Dialogue, and advance other key global initiatives such as the UN Summit of the Future.“The 9th World Investment Forum in Qatar will bring together influential voices from across government, business and finance to shape the future of sustainable investment,” notes Nan Li Collins, UNCTAD director of investment and enterprise, also serving as head of the World Investment Forum.Strong partnership for sustainable developmentLooking ahead to the forum, host country Qatar reaffirms its commitment to advancing multilateral dialogue and mobilizing investment for shared prosperity.“We view this not simply as a ceremonial role, but as a substantive commitment to ensuring that WIF 2026 is action-oriented, inclusive and catalytic,” said Ahmad Mohamed A.Y. Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar.“Let us seize this moment of global challenge as an opportunity, to rewire investment toward resilience, equity and shared prosperity. Qatar stands ready to host, catalyze and partner in this journey,” the minister added.Further details about the World Investment Forum 2026 will follow in the coming months, follow its official website for updates.
The Secretariat of the World Investment Forum is the Division on Investment and Enterprise at UN Trade and Development. The Division is led by Director Nan Li-Collins and is the focal point within the United Nations systems for all issues related to investment and enterprise development. It conducts cutting-edge policy analysis, provides technical assistance and builds international consensus on investment and enterprise.
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan launched the World Investment Report 2025 during a press conference in Geneva on 19 June 2025.
UNCTAD’s 8th Women in Business Awards honoured successful entrepreneurs from developing countries who are driving positive change for people and the planet.
UNCTAD's 8th World Investment Forum underscored the sector's pivotal role in bridging the $4 trillion annual investment gap developing countries face to achieve the Global Goals, especially for food security and biodiversity protection.
The call was issued on the second day of the 8th World Investment Forum and underscores the vital need for capital in developing countries, where substantial growth opportunities exist.
With over 735 million people facing hunger globally, $680 billion is needed annually from now until 2030 to revamp agrifood systems in low and middle-income countries.
The 8th World Investment Forum unveils the winners of the UN Investment Promotion Awards 2023, celebrating their success in supercharging climate action.