Policy issues related to investment and development
Discussion will deal with the rise of foreign direct investment (FDI) from developing and transition economies and its implications for development, as well as with the role of FDI in extractive industries. The secretariat will also present the main findings of the World Investment Report 2006.
The Commission will consider the outcomes of three meetings that took place in 2007:
- Expert Meeting on Building Productive Capacities
(4 to 6 September 2006) - Expert Meeting on FDI in Natural Resources
(20 to 22 November 2006) - Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Advocacy for Investment Policies
(23 and 24 November 2006)
International investment agreements and their development dimension
The Commission will review recent trends in international investment agreements (IIAs) and the "new generation" of bilateral investment treaties, focusing on their development impact and their implications for international investment policymaking.
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of IIAs concluded at the bilateral, regional and interregional levels. At the same time, their universe is becoming more complex due to the emergence of a new generation of IIAs with provisions that tend to be increasingly sophisticated in content. As a result, international investment relations are becoming increasingly complicated to navigate - for both countries and firms.
This difficulty is further accentuated by the continued rise in the number of investor-State disputes and the emerging international investment jurisprudence. This has serious implications, particularly for developing countries.
Investment policy reviews: Exchange of national experience
UNCTAD´s Investment Policy Reviews (IPRs) provide an objective evaluation of a country´s legal, regulatory and institutional framework, with a view to attracting increased foreign and direct investment and maximizing its benefits.
The Commission will discuss the IPR of Morocco and the IPR of Zambia. The IPR Morocco will be presented by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Driss Jettou, and the IPR of Zambia will be introduced by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia, H.E. Kenneth Konga. The review panels will consist of high-level representatives from the Government concerned and experts and representatives from the domestic and international private sector.
The Commission will also consider, in the presence of Dr. Maggie Kigozi, Executive Director of the Uganda Investment Authority, the extent to which the recommendations of the IPR of Uganda have been implemented since the completion of the Review in 2000.
