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Dear Members of the World Investment Network,

UNCTAD has just released the latest issue of its Investment Policy Monitor
. 

The Monitor finds that 33 countries/economies took 45 investment policy 
measures in the review period (March - December 2014). The share of 
liberalization and promotion measures reached 82% – slightly above the 
average of recent years. These policies were adopted in important sectors 
and industries, including air transportation, national defense, railway 
infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, power plants and telecommunication. 
Despite these numerous measures aimed at improving investment conditions, 
there are also new concerns about the role of foreign investors in host 
countries. New investment restrictions for foreign investment mainly 
related to oil production, data communication and media companies.

A recent UNCTAD survey shows that countries increasingly pay attention to 
sustainable development in their national investment policies. However, 
the share of such measures among all investment-related policy changes is 
still low (approximately 8%). More can be done in investment policies to 
enhance the contribution of foreign investment to the sustainable 
development goals.  

Regarding international investment policies, the Monitor finds that 51 
economies concluded 26 new international investment agreements (IIAs). 
These include 14 bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and 12 "other IIAs." 
Negotiations for one megaregional agreement (CETA) were concluded, and 
negotiations for six others continue.

UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor, together with its Global Investment 
Trends Monitor, is a regular online policy brief that provides the 
international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date 
information about the latest development in foreign investment policies 
both at the national and international levels.

James Zhan
Director
Investment & Enterprise
United Nations Conference on Trade & Development