Regional trends

Developed countries attracted $636 billion in FDI inflows in 1999, $156 billion more than in 1998, accounting for nearly threequarters of the world’s total. The United States and the United Kingdom continued to lead in both inward and outward FDI. The United Kingdom became the largest outward investor in 1999, replacing the United States for the first time since 1988. These two countries also were the principal host countries. Total flows between the European Union (EU) and the United States increased significantly in 1999, after doubling in 1998. Inflows of FDI to the EU as a region were an estimated $305 billion, a 23 per cent increase over the previous year. Inflows of FDI to Japan quadrupled: from $3 billion in 1998 to $13 billion in 1999. Japanese outflows showed a slight decline, from $24 to an estimated $23 billion. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe, still in transition to a market economy, managed to retain a stable inflow of about $23 billion in 1999.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Decent Work and Economic Growth