The global foreign investment amounted to US$ 165 billion in 2021, a strong rise of 77% after the collapse caused by the pandemic in 2020, and exceeded the levels prior to that health crisis, indicated the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (Unctad).
Investment in developed economies, exceptionally low in 2020, soared 199% in 2021, while in developing and less developed economies, where the recovery has been hampered by factors such as low vaccination rates, the increase was more modest, 30% and 19%, respectively.
“The stagnation of new investments in key sectors of less developed countries, such as electricity, food or health, is very worrying,” said Unctad Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan when presenting the figures.
Asia was the region that attracted the most foreign investment (US$ 696,000 million, an 18% increase), followed by America (US$ 531,000 million, an increase of 105%) and Europe (US$ 305,000 million, a strong growth of 1,450%). explained by the divestments of the previous year).
The United States attracted $323 billion worth of foreign investment last year, a 114% increase that Unctad attributes mainly to cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
In the European Union (EU) the increase was more modest, of 8% (US$165,000 million), while China attracted a record number of investments of US$179,000 million, a year-on-year increase of 20%.
Investment flows to Brazil also stood out, doubling to US$58 billion, while in India they fell 26%, after a record number of mergers and acquisitions in 2020.
For the year 2020, Unctad maintains positive perspectives although it considers it unlikely that the “rebound effect” of 2021 will be repeated.
The agency believes that international infrastructure projects will be an important factor in maintaining the upward trend in investments this year.
Factors such as the rate of vaccination in developing countries or problems in global supply chains, energy prices or inflation can add uncertainty, Unctad warned.
.
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
