Does A Country Need A Promotion Agency To Attract Foreign Direct Investment

Establishing an investment promotion agency has become a central part of most countries' development strategies. Today there are more than 150 investment promotion agencies worldwide. Yet very little is known about what these agencies have been really doing, notably in emerging countries, and whether they have been effective in influencing investors' decisions. Using data from a new survey on 58 countries, Morisset shows that greater investment promotion is associated with higher cross-country foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, on top of the influence of the country's investment climate and market size. But this result has to be qualified on several counts. First, the effectiveness of the agency depends on the country's environment in which it operates. An agency in a poor investment climate is less effective at attracting investment. Second, the scope of activities that an agency undertakes influences its performance. Morisset's empirical analysis indicates that agencies devoting more resources on policy advocacy are more effective because such activity is not only beneficial to foreign investors but also to domestic investors. In contrast, investment generation or targeting strategies appear expensive and risky, especially in countries with poor investment climates. Finally, certain internal characteristics of the agencies are associated with greater effectiveness. The agencies that have established reporting mechanisms to the country's highest policymakers (the president or prime minister) or to the private sector have been systematically more efficient at attracting foreign direct investment. Such institutional links are crucial because they contribute to strengthen the government's commitment as well as reinforce the agency's credibility and visibility in the business community.

Establishing an investment promotion agency has become a central part of most countries' development strategies. Today there are more than 150 investment promotion agencies worldwide. Yet very little is known about what these agencies have been really doing, notably in emerging countries, and whether they have been effective in influencing investors' decisions.Using data from a new survey on 58 countries, Morisset shows that greater investment promotion is associated with higher cross-country foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, on top of the influence of the country's investment climate and market size.But this result has to be qualified on several counts. First, the effectiveness of the agency depends on the country's environment in which it operates. An agency in a poor investment climate is less effective at attracting investment. Second, the scope of activities that an agency undertakes influences its performance. Morisset's empirical analysis indicates that agencies devoting more resources on policy advocacy are more effective because such activity is not only beneficial to foreign investors but also to domestic investors. In contrast, investment generation or targeting strategies appear expensive and risky, especially in countries with poor investment climates.Finally, certain internal characteristics of the agencies are associated with greater effectiveness. The agencies that have established reporting mechanisms to the country's highest policymakers (the president or prime minister) or to the private sector have been systematically more efficient at attracting foreign direct investment. Such institutional links are crucial because they contribute to strengthen the government's commitment as well as reinforce the agency's credibility and visibility in the business community.This paper - a product of the Foreign Investment Advisory Service - is part of a larger effort in the Bank to understand foreign direct investment flows.

The Foreign Investment Advisory Service, a joint facility of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank, was established to help governments of developing member countries to review and adjust the policies, institutions, and programmes that affect foreign direct investment (FDI). The ultimate purpose of FIAS is to assist member governments to attract beneficial foreign private capital, technology, and managerial expertise.

Investment promotion agencies (IPAs) exist in almost all countries around the world, but there has been no global attempt to determine whether they have been able to significantly influence the investor's decision to locate in one country rather than another. 'The Effectiveness of Promotion Agencies at Attracting Foreign Direct Investment' is the first empirical study of the effectiveness of these agencies in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).This study finds that promotion is unambiguously associated with greater FDI flows. The effectiveness of promotion, however, depends on: • the quality of the investment climate, market size • the level of development of the country • the IPA's budget and type of activities it carries out • communication with the highest level of policymakers and support from the private sector. An important resource, 'The Effectiveness of Promotion Agencies at Attracting Foreign Direct Investment' provides many lessons about how to carry out effective investment promotion.

The investment promotion puzzle remains unsolved. Nearly every country in the world has established an investment promotion agency (IPA) to attract and retain foreign direct investment (FDI) in both greater quantities and of higher “quality.” Meanwhile, the literature has been virtually silent on investment promotion and its effects on FDI. As a result, we know little about what such agencies look like in different countries, what they do, how they do it, and whether and to what extent they make a difference. How to Solve An Investment Promotion Puzzle aims to fill in this gap by providing detailed information on the organization, functions and activities, and operational modalities of IPAs across over 50 countries in LAC and OECD, distilling similarities and differences and creating a new basis for peer-to-peer benchmarking and analysis of their impact. As such, it can serve as a useful guide to professionals and policymakers interested in designing better policies for FDI.

Promotion of foreign direct investment (FDI) has been a priority policy goal in Central America, Panama and Dominican Republic for the past twenty years. Fiscal benefits are among the policies that have been used to attract it. At first sight the model followed has been fruitful. In 2013 the eight countries of the region succeeded in attracting US$ 12.7 billion, the highest level of FDI in their history. But there are question marks about how FDI will perform in future and what the incentives to promote it should be now that World Trade Organization rules on the instruments used to promote FDI in the region have changed. The present book analyzes this situation in depth. Firstly, it reviews the importance of FDI in the region as a source of financing for the external deficit. Then it reviews the findings of international economic research on the impact of FDI on growth and the factors that attract it. It highlights that far from being assured, the benefits of FDI depend on complementary factors which are often not present in the region. Subsequently the book analyzes the international evolution of FDI and the growing importance of multinationals of Latin origin. It then tackles the controversial question of the efficacy of fiscal incentives as a means to attract investment, following an innovative technical approach based on firm level data which questions whether the free zones have had a net positive impact on development. This analysis is complemented by a study of investment promotion policies, which focuses particularly on the Investment Promotion Agencies. Finally, the book outlines the prospects for FDI attraction now the sun has set on strategies based on providing fiscal incentives. It argues that a new strategy should be based on the creation of new skills and capacities through instruments designed to complement productive development policies and thereby generate positive spillovers in the economy.

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA; a member of the World Bank Group) is pleased to announce its latest initiative to empower investment promotion programs worldwide—the 'Investment Promotion Toolkit'. The toolkit is a comprehensive compilation of international best practices in investment promotion, and aims to assist national and local investment intermediaries to attract and retain foreign direct investment. The toolkit represents first-hand insights gained during MIGA's 12 years of investment experience in over 150 emerging economies and developing countries worldwide.This new resource forms the foundation for delivery of MIGA's technical assistance services and provides a valuable reference tool for sustaining investment initiatives after completion of MIGA's formal capacity-building work. Is is also available for purchase by any organization that wishes to promote foreign direct investment.The toolkit is designed for use by a broad range of investment intermediaries, including investment promotion agencies, consulting firms, sectoral ministries, international development agencies, and economic development agencies at the national, state, and local levels. It consists of nine discrete modules covering all basic functions of investment promotion:Module 1. Understanding foreign direct investment Module 2. Developing an investment promotion agency Module 3. Creating an investment promotion strategy Module 4. Building effective partnerships Module 5. Strengthening the location's image Module 6. Targeting and generating investment opportunities Module 7. Servicing investors Module 8. Monitoring and evaluating activities and results Module 9. Utilizing information technology