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World Investment Prospects Survey 2013–2015

UNCTAD’s World Investment Prospects Survey 2013–2015 provides an outlook on future trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) by the largest transnational corporations (TNCs). This year’s survey is the most recent in a series of similar surveys that have been conducted regularly by UNCTAD since 1995 as part of the background work for its annual World Investment Report. As reported in the World Investment Report 2013 (WIR 2013), UNCTAD projects that FDI flows in 2013 are to remain close to the 2012 level, with an upper range of $1.45 trillion. As investors regain confidence in the medium term, flows are expected to reach levels of $1.6 trillion in 2014 and $1.8 trillion in 2015. However, significant risks to this growth scenario remain, including structural weaknesses in major developed economies and in the global financial system, and significant policy uncertainties in areas crucial for investor confidence, including fiscal policy and investment regulations and restrictions. Should these risks prevail, FDI recovery could be further delayed and trends could more closely follow the more pessimistic scenario.