While other sources of finance for development have grown considerably over the last decades, positive projections on foreign investment have often failed to materialize. Recent evidence, moreover, suggests that the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and economic growth is more complex and heteogeneous than we previously thought.
FDI has been one of the pillars of international development efforts for over 70 years; but how true is its promise today? In this roundtable discussion, we will talk about drivers of recent trends, how likely they are to persist, and implications for multilateral policy initiatives such as the investment facilitation at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Our discussion aims at highlighting policy solutions to attract more FDI and more of the kind of FDI that supports sustainable development in a contested geo-political environment.
The topic is inspired by this IDOS Policy Brief and ongoing research at the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Centre for Finance and Development, and will have the following agenda and speakers:
Welcome remarks
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Ugo Panizza, Professor of Economics, Pictet Chair in Finance and Development, Geneva Graduate Institute
Moderator
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Axel Berger, Deputy Director, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Speakers
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Sofía Boza, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Chile to the WTO, co-Coordinator of the Structured Discussions on Investment Facilitation for Development
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Ugo Panizza, Professor of Economics, Pictet Chair in Finance and Development, Geneva Graduate Institute
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Alexandros Ragoussis, Associate Fellow, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
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Amelia Santos-Paulino, Chief Investment Research Section, Division on Investment & Enterprises at UNCTAD
We look forward to welcoming you to the roundtable discussion!
The event is jointly organised by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Centre for Finance and Development.
