Foreign direct investment holds steady
in developing Asia AS A WHOLE in 1999 —
BUT WITH SIGNIFICANT VARIATION AMONG COUNTRIES

UNCTAD
25 January 2000


According to preliminary estimates by UNCTAD, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to developing Asia in 1999 increased by 1 per cent over 1998 to US$91 billion, contrary to a decline anticipated in the wake of the 1997-1998 financial crisis.

This regional increase, however, masks considerable variation in FDI flows to individual countries. China, the principal FDI recipient in developing Asia throughout the 1990s, retained its lead but saw a nearly 8 per cent drop to just over US$40 billion. Compensating for this were the boom in the Republic of Korea (up nearly 55 per cent, to US$8.5 billion), the 20 per cent increase in Singapore (to US$8.7 billion) and the substantial recovery in Taiwan Province of China (US$2.4 billion). Among the five countries most affected by the crisis, flows declined in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, while remaining steady in Malaysia and skyrocketing in the Republic of Korea. As a result, all five together gained 1 per cent, to reach US$18 billion.

Some other notable features of the Asia FDI scene are:

The investment prospects for developing Asia remain bright in the light of the quality of the underlying economic determinants for FDI flows, the recovery of the regional economy, the ongoing liberalization and restructuring efforts that are widespread in the region, and the probable accession of China to the WTO in the near future.


For more information, please contact:
James X. Zhan
Economist
Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development (DITE)
UNCTAD
Telephone: +41 22 907 5797
Fax: +41 22 907 0498
E-mail: james.zhan@unctad.org
or Carine Richard-Van Maele
Chief
Press Unit
UNCTAD
Telephone: +41 22 917 5816/28
Fax: +41 22 907 0043
e-mail: press@unctad.org