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UNCTAD LAUNCHES WORLD INVESTMENT DIRECTORY ONLINE


Press Release
For use of information media - Not an official record
TAD/INF/B28/E
UNCTAD LAUNCHES WORLD INVESTMENT DIRECTORY ONLINE

Geneva, Switzerland, 27 February 2003

UNCTAD today launches the online version of its World Investment Directory, which will provide quick electronic access to comprehensive statistics on foreign direct investment (FDI) and the operations of transnational corporations (TNCs). Online as of today are the latest available statistics on 11 countries: Albania, Australia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Slovakia and Spain.

There are also statistical definitions and sources, a brief discussion and listing of relevant national laws and regulations, information on bilateral and multilateral agreements and a bibliography. Information on each country is available in two formats: a detailed profile, and an "FDI in Brief", highlighting the most interesting aspects of the profile.

Data on nearly all countries in the developed world, as well as Central and Eastern Europe, will be online within the next month, to be followed eventually by other regions.