Invitation to the presentation (under embargo) of the world investment report 2011: “Non-equity modes of international production and development”

Presentation of the “The World Investment Report (WIR) 2011: Non-equity modes of international production and development”. (All parts of the report are under strict embargo until 26 July 17h GMT)

When: 25 July 2011 at 10:30 a.m.

Where: UN Regional Information Centre, (UNRIC), Residence Palace- 155 rue de la Loi-Wetstraat 155 1040 Brussels, 8th floor, Entrance block C2 (behind the security container)

Who: Professor Daniël Van Den Bulcke will present the report and answer questions.

Dr. Van Den Bulcke is the former Director of the Centre for International Management and Development Institute at the University of Antwerp (CIMDA). He was Chairman of the European International Business Academy between 2003 and 2009. He is the former President of the Institute of Development Policy and Management (IDPM-IOB) of the University of Antwerp and is still active as Academic Director of the Euro-China Centre of the Antwerp Management School.

Highlights of the report:

UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2011 (WIR 2011) presents new and exclusive data on global investment trends in 2010, as well as region-by-region statistics.

Over the years, UNCTAD’s World Investment Report has examined, analysed and reported on the flows of FDI with a view to understanding the vast system of international production and trade orchestrated by TNCs. It has increasingly become clear, however, that equity-holding is not the only means of exerting control over the global value chains. TNCs also enter into various types of contractual relationships with independent, or rather loosely dependent, firms in host economies. The latter, which the Report refers to as non-equity modes of involvement (NEMs) – such as contract manufacturing, contract farming, licensing and franchising - are gaining importance in the system of global production. This area of research requires an overall analytical framework to assess the development impacts NEMs, which the Report seeks to provide, especially to propose a viable policy framework. For example, there may be a fundamental difference with the FDI policy framework insofar as this form establishes a hierarchical relationship between the investor and the state, while non-equity modes of involvement are contractual partnership between private parties. By filling in a policy analysis gap such as this, WIR11 will provide host country governments with strategic issues that they need to consider in order to fully benefit from emerging opportunities.

The Report also examines the following key topics, which will be touched upon in the presentation:

• Recent trends in global FDI: FDI flows by industry, modes of entry and components

• Regional trends in FDI, including investment patterns in low income countries

• Global investment prospects in the short and medium term

• State-owned transnational corporation: a unique analysis on their origin, characteristics, investment patterns – and, in some cases, concerns arising in host countries.

• Recent developments in investment policies at the national and international levels

• Interaction between and industrial and FDI policies

• Corporate social responsibility: a systemic analysis

Notes:

• The report will be presented in English. Interviews in Dutch and French are possible.

• If you wish to attend this presentation we would be most grateful if you could confirm your participation to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel. + 32 (0) 476. 215. 485

Please do not hesitate to contact the UNCTAD Press Office (+41 22 917 5828/5549/5166 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )