WORLD INVESTMENT REPORT 2002 TO BE RELEASED ON 17 SEPTEMBER

Note to Correspondents

WORLD INVESTMENT REPORT 2002 TO BE RELEASED ON 17 SEPTEMBER

The World Investment Report 2002, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), looks at emerging trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) and focuses on the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in the export competitiveness of developing countries.

Last year saw quite a downfall in FDI flows worldwide -– the first such decline in 10 years.  How did individual regions and countries do in this situation as far as inflows and outflows are concerned?  The UNCTAD provides the answer for 196 countries and economies.

Are corporate strategies changing in response -– and will TNCs relocate their activities to countries with lower labour costs?

Which are the biggest TNCs worldwide?  In developing countries?  In Central and Eastern Europe?  Which industries are the most transnationalized?

How does a country's success in attracting FDI measure up to its potential? Two new UNCTAD indices -– one on Inward FDI Potential, the other on Inward FDI Performance -- provide some surprising answers for 140 countries and economies.

What are the most dynamic products in world trade, and which countries are the winners, garnering the biggest shares in exports?  What role do TNCs play in these exports, especially in developing countries?

In today's increasingly competitive international environment, boosting exports is crucial.  But countries need strategies that will bring both short-term and long-term benefits from those exports.  What can they do to attract, target and also upgrade export-oriented FDI?

What are the challenges facing countries with export processing zones in light of the World Trade Organization rules coming into force next January?

The World Investment Report is under embargo until 17:00 GMT on Tuesday,   17 September.

The main launch of this year’s Report will take place in Geneva at the Palais des Nations, at a press conference given by the Deputy Secretary-General of

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UNCTAD, Carlos Fortin, at 12 noon on 17 September.  Other press conferences are being organized in some 60 countries.  Information on these events will shortly be available on the UNCTAD Web site (www.unctad.org).  Press releases, the Report itself, the overview and the opening statement to be read out at the press conferences will be posted on the Web site after the embargo.

For further information, please contact UNCTAD Press Officers Erica Meltzer, tel: +41 22 907 5365/5828; Muriel Scibilia, tel: +41 22 907 5725/5828; or  Alessandra Vellucci, tel: +41 22 907 4641/5828.  For a copy of the Report, please write to press@unctad.org.

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