FDI inflows to MENA reached $88B in 2025, highest since 2020. UAE and Saudi Arabia account for 65% of flows. Energy transition and tech infrastructure are primary drivers. GFM projects $102B by 2027.
India raises the FDI cap in insurance to 100% under the automatic route. GFM identifies 8–12 probable cross-border M&A targets in life and reinsurance. Key windows: 12–18 months.
GFM intelligence projects $28B in data centre FDI to MENA by 2028. UAE accounts for 62% of current capacity. Microsoft, AWS, Google all confirmed. Hyperscale construction window: 2026–2028.
Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia receiving accelerating supply chain FDI. 42 new facility announcements in Q1 2026. China+1 strategies now accounting for 28% of regional FDI. Samsung and Toyota leading.
Uranium at $88/lb as nuclear renaissance gathers pace. Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada primary beneficiaries. 18 new nuclear plant approvals globally in 2025. GFM identifies 6 PLATINUM signals in pipeline.
UAE achieves +4.2 GFR points in Q1 2026 — largest single-quarter gain in 8-year index history. Digital Foundations (+6.1) and Sustainability (+5.8) lead. GFR: 80.0 (#3 globally).
IRA-driven manufacturing FDI totalled $180B in the US in 2025 — a record. EV battery, solar and semiconductor fabs account for 68% of flows. Texas, Ohio, Arizona top receiving states.
Q1 2026 saw 12 new green hydrogen projects above $1B each. Combined capex $28B. Saudi Arabia (4), Australia (3), Chile (2) leading. IRENA projects $300B annual investment by 2030.
European Commission tightens FDI screening for AI infrastructure, semiconductor fabs, and data centres. Deal timelines for non-EU acquirers extended from 25 to 45 days. Irish and Dutch authorities expanding review capacity.
AfCFTA implementation progress accelerating. Nigeria and South Africa removing 85% of tariffs on manufactured goods. GFM models $12B incremental FDI into Sub-Saharan Africa by end-2027 from improved corridor predictability.
India pharmaceutical FDI reached $8B in 2025, driven by post-COVID supply chain diversification and generics export opportunity. Hyderabad and Pune emerging as preferred manufacturing hubs for MNCs.
Central and Eastern Europe recorded $22B FDI inflows in Q4 2025, up 34% YoY. Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary leading. ICT services and advanced manufacturing dominant sectors.
UNCTAD preliminary data shows global FDI inflows recovered to $1.4T in 2024, up 11% from $1.26T in 2023. Developing economies captured 47% of flows, led by India ($71B), Brazil ($70B), and UAE ($23B). Services sector overtook manufacturing for the first time in emerging markets.
Total committed investment in battery manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure reached $420B across 2023-2028 pipeline. LFP chemistry dominates new capacity. China (42%), Europe (28%), North America (22%) share of new capacity additions.
India Production-Linked Incentive scheme across 14 sectors attracted $38B FDI in 24 months. Semiconductors, pharma API, and display manufacturing led. Apple supply chain partners account for 28% of total PLI-linked FDI.
US BIS export controls on advanced AI chips (H100, A100 class) redirected $180B in planned semiconductor FDI. Japan (+$38B), India (+$22B), and UAE (+$8B) major beneficiaries. China semiconductor self-sufficiency investment now at $150B annually.
Sovereign wealth funds from UAE (ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ), Saudi Arabia (PIF), Qatar (QIA), and Kuwait (KIA) deployed $400B in global investments during 2023-2024. Technology (32%), infrastructure (24%), and real estate (18%) dominated allocations.
Global solar manufacturing FDI committed 500GW of new annual capacity additions through 2030 in projects announced since 2022. India, US, and EU the three largest receiving markets. Average cost per GW of capacity fell 45% from 2020 to 2024.
EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) launched 78 formal investigations in its first 18 months. Chinese bidders involved in 62% of cases. Procurement disruptions estimated at €28B. Three landmark prohibition decisions issued affecting solar, EV, and rolling stock bids.
FDI into Sub-Saharan Africa reached $54B in 2023, with infrastructure (energy, transport, telecoms) accounting for 41%. Egypt, South Africa, and Ethiopia top recipients. Chinese FDI slowed 22% while Gulf FDI grew 34%, reflecting new South-South corridors.
Hyperscale AI data centre investment surpassed $200B committed globally in 2023-2024. Microsoft ($80B+), Google ($38B), Amazon ($30B), Meta ($37B) leading. Power infrastructure constraints becoming binding in US, UK, and Netherlands. MENA emerges as overflow destination.
Inflation Reduction Act triggered $630B in committed private clean energy and manufacturing investment in the US by April 2024. Georgia, Texas, and Michigan top receiving states. EV battery (38%), solar (24%), and wind (14%) dominate. 100,000+ jobs created or announced.
For the first time in data history, India received more US technology sector FDI ($22B) than China ($14B) in 2023. Datacenter, semiconductor design, and IT services drove flows. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune the three dominant receiving cities.
OECD BEPS Pillar Two 15% global minimum corporate tax enacted in 45 jurisdictions by end 2023. Impact on FDI decisions: GFM models 4-8% reduction in profit-motivated FDI to former low-tax jurisdictions. Ireland, Netherlands, and Singapore adapting IPA incentive strategies.
UNCTAD World Investment Report: global FDI fell 18% to $1.26T in 2023, driven by sharp drops in Europe (-18%) and North America (-24%) from exceptional 2022 highs. Greenfield investment rose 13% to $887B, signaling strong underlying investment appetite despite financial volatility.
IEA NZE scenario requires $500B annual FDI in clean energy infrastructure through 2030. Current run-rate: $320B. Biggest gaps: grid infrastructure ($80B deficit), clean hydrogen ($60B deficit), offshore wind ($40B deficit). Gulf sovereign funds positioned as critical gap-fillers.
UNCTAD: global FDI recovered sharply to record $1.58T in 2021, up 64% from pandemic-hit 2020 ($1.0T). Developed economies drove recovery with $1.0T. M&A transactions (particularly in technology and healthcare) powered North America and European surges.
UNCTAD: global FDI fell 35% to $1.0T in 2020 — lowest since 2005. Greenfield investment fell 50%. Healthcare and technology exceptions: both sectors saw FDI increases. China uniquely resilient with only 4% decline. Vaccine manufacturing FDI emerged as new sub-asset class.
UNCTAD: global FDI fell 13% to $1.2T in 2018, lowest since 2009. US Tax Cuts and Jobs Act drove $400B in US corporate repatriation, distorting traditional FDI flows. US-China trade war dampened bilateral investment. Ireland and Netherlands experienced large outflows from repatriation.
Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) significantly expanded CFIUS jurisdiction. Review coverage extended to real estate near military bases, non-controlling tech investments, and sensitive personal data businesses. Chinese M&A in US technology fell 97% from 2016-2018.
UNCTAD: global FDI surged to all-time record $1.92T in 2015, driven by a wave of corporate restructurings and cross-border M&A. US ($380B), Hong Kong ($175B), and China ($136B) top recipients. Services sector dominates at 64% of total flows.
China for the first time displaced the US as the world's largest FDI recipient in 2013 with $124B inflows vs. US $188B (actual, 2014 revised data shows US larger). Manufacturing supply chain and consumer market FDI dominant. Services sector FDI to China growing at 14% CAGR.
Global Financial Crisis impact: FDI fell 37% to $1.2T in 2009 — the steepest single-year decline ever recorded. UNCTAD notes FDI to developed economies fell 44% while developing economy FDI held at 65% of 2008 level. China and Brazil key stabilisers of global flows.
Global FDI reached near-record $1.97T in 2007, driven by leverage-fueled cross-border M&A at historical valuations. Financial services (32%) dominated flows. US, UK, and France top recipients. Developing economy FDI hit $500B — new record at the time.
China's WTO accession in 2001 drove FDI from $40B (2001) to $61B (2004). Manufacturing supply chain investment dominant. Toyota, Volkswagen, GM, and Samsung among largest investors. Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta account for 68% of flows.
Collapse of dot-com valuations and post-9/11 uncertainty halved global FDI from $1.4T (2000) to $735B (2001) — the steepest one-year drop in history at that time. TMT sector FDI fell 70%. Manufacturing FDI relatively resilient. Marked end of merger wave that began 1994.
UNCTAD: global FDI reached then-record $1.4T in 2000, driven by massive cross-border M&A wave (Vodafone-Mannesmann, Time Warner-AOL, Pfizer-Warner-Lambert). Technology, media, and telecom account for 42% of total flows. Marked beginning of modern FDI era.