Is Foreign Direct Investment Losing Clout in Development?

Event Type
Roundtable Discussion

Location / Date
Geneva, 28.09.2022

German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Centre for Finance and Development

While other sources of finance for development have grown considerably over the last decades, positive projections on foreign investment have often failed to materialize. Recent evidence, moreover, suggests that the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and economic growth is more complex and heterogeneous than we previously thought.

FDI has been one of the pillars of international development efforts for over 70 years; but how true is its promise today? In this roundtable discussion, we will talk about drivers of recent trends, how likely they are to persist, and implications for multilateral policy initiatives such as the investment facilitation at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Our discussion aims at highlighting policy solutions to attract more FDI and more of the kind of FDI that supports sustainable development in a contested geo-political environment.

The topic is inspired by this IDOS Policy Brief and ongoing research at the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Centre for Finance and Development, and will have the following agenda and speakers:

Welcome remarks

• Ugo Panizza, Professor of Economics, Pictet Chair in Finance and Development, Geneva Graduate Institute

Moderator

• Axel Berger, Deputy Director, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).

Speakers

• Sofia Boza, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Chile to the WTO, co-Coordinator of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development
• Ugo Panizza, Professor of Economics, Pictet Chair in Finance and Development, Geneva Graduate Institute
• Alexandros Ragoussis, Associate Fellow, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
• Amelia Santos-Paulino, Chief Investment Research Section, Division on Investment & Enterprises at UNCTAD

 
We look forward to welcoming you to the roundtable discussion!

Hinweis

Während unserer Veranstaltungen werden z.T. Foto- und/oder Filmaufnahmen gemacht, die für Zwecke der Veranstaltungsberichterstattung und allgemeinen Öffentlichkeitsarbeit in verschiedenen Medien veröffentlicht werden. Sie haben jederzeit das Recht, die Foto- oder Videograf*innen darauf hinzuweisen, dass Sie nicht aufgenommen werden möchten. / During our events photos and/or videos may be taken which may be published in various media for the purposes of documentation and PR activities. You have the right at any time to point out to the photographer or videographer that you do not want to be photographed or filmed.