Introduction

Global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in 2004 are estimated to have risen by 6% to $612 billion, according to UNCTAD data released today (see table in full pressrelease). As in 2003, however, flows to developed countries slumped, but that decline was offset by rising flows to developing countries and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Not only did this put an end to the global FDI downturn that had begun in 2001, it also meant that investment flows to developing countries and CEE surpassed their respective previous records. "This increase is good news for developing ...