Dear Member of the World Investment Network,
It is my pleasure to share with you the 6th issue of our
joint UNCTAD-OECD Report on G-20 Investment Measures
.
The 6th joint Report builds on the findings
of our last Global
Trends Monitor and notes that the
global FDI recovery faces new challenges, with a moderate FDI growth during
the first half of 2011 and a likely slow-down in the second half. As the
world economy urgently needs a boost from private investment to generate
growth and create jobs, the Report calls for short-term crisis management
to be coordinated with efforts to encourage long-term productive investment.
During the end-April to early-October 2011
reporting period, nine G-20 members took some sort of investment policy
action.
- Five G-20 members took investment-specific
policy measures (Brazil, China, India, Italy and the Republic of Korea)
- Four G-20 members concluded four bilateral
investment treaties and one other international agreement with investment
provisions (Canada, Indonesia, Japan and the Russian Federation)
On the whole, G-20 members have
continued to honour their pledge not to retreat into investment protectionism.
In fact, most of the investment policy measures taken in the reporting
period indicate a move towards eliminating restrictions to foreign investment
and improving clarity for investors.
The Report was prepared in response to the
G-20 Leaders’ latest request made at their Summit meeting in Seoul on
11-12 November 2010, when they reaffirmed the extension of their standstill
commitment to resist protectionism until the end of 2013. They asked the
WTO to continue monitoring trade policy developments, and UNCTAD and the
OECD to continue monitoring investment policy developments, and to report
publicly on a semi-annual basis.
This G20 report can be read in the broader
context of most recent global investment policy developments, as described
in UNCTAD's
6th Investment Policy Monitor.
We hope you find this information interesting
and useful, and welcome any comments and suggestions you may have on our
work.
With best regards,
James X. Zhan
Director
Investment & Enterprise Division
United Nations Conference on Trade &
Development
Palais des Nations, Geneva
Tel: +41 22 9175797
www.unctad.org/diae
WIR