In March this year, William Pedder took over as chief executive of Invest-UK, the organisation that promotes the United Kingdom as a business location.

Investment promotion agencies that want to see investment in oil exploration and production in their own countries should ensure Richard Olver’s name is in their address books.

In the past 10 years, the former Soviet satellite of Kazakhstan has received billions of dollars of investment. As Christopher Pala reports, the government has much to pride itself on... and much more work to do to maintain such high levels of investment.

Matei Paun, in Bucharest, discusses what it will take to increase foreign investment in Romania, and recommends some policy initiatives.

Mike Moore steps down soon as director-general of the World Trade Organization. He tells Ashleigh Lezard about his achievements and the challenges ahead for the WTO.

Proposals for a multilateral framework for FDI has received a mixed response. Could nations with wildly different views ever agree on such a thing asks Ashleigh Lezard.

Martin Roche offers some advice on how investment promotion agencies can use advertising ti its best effect.

Mauritius is a small island with big ambitions, intent on positioning itself as a leader in the tech and financial services sectors. Ashleigh Lezard reports

Jules Stewart looks at the initiatives the Spanish government and businesses have made in recent months to attract more foreign investment.

Does the size and prestige of the company that you are seeking to attract influence the incentives offered?

What are the prospects for FDI growth in your region in 2002?

What is the question most frequently asked of you by potential investors?

What do you see as the particular advantages that you offer to an investor from this particular sector?

Why do you aim to attract investment from your chosen sector(s) to your region/country?

Bolstered by another IMF loan and a competent economy minister, Turkey is gradually showing a more acceptable financial face to the world.

When US company Metalclad took over a hazardous waste disposal site in Mexico, little did it know the problems it was letting itself in for. Local opposition and a merry-go-round of licence application brought work to a standstill. Charles Piggott reports

The European Union money laundering Directive of 1991 has been replaced by a new Directive that extends the definition of money laundering beyond drugs-related offences to cover the proceeds of all serious crime. The amendments also extend the types of business that fall within the scope of the Directive. The Directive must be implemented in EU member states’ legislation by June 15, 2003.

When Ford chairman, Bill Ford, admitted last year that he was worried about the growing demand for cheaper Asian cars in America, he was right to express concern. The growing domestic market prompted the South Korean car manufacturers, Hyundai to base an assembly and manufacturing plant in the US.

Investment disputes can often turn bitter and damage a country’s image. Karl Sauvant explores the idea of establishing an investment mediator.

The idea of a one-stop shop for foreign investors is nothing new. But the Brazilian style of achieving it is different. For one thing, Brazil’s one-stop shop will not be under one roof.

A recent investor strategy report by consultancy BusinessMap has revealed that South African companies have invested nearly $1bn in the rest of Africa.

Ashleigh Lezard

Northern Ireland has a new economic development agency. Invest NI brings together all the functions carried out by the Industrial Development Board, the Local Enterprise Development Unit, the Industrial Research and Technology Unit Business Support Division of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI) and the tourist accommodation support functions of the tourist board. The agency will have an annual budget of Ł200m.

An environmentally friendly business park has opened in Cornwall in England. The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) says it is “one of the most environmentally advanced business parks in the UK”.

Sportswear manufacturers Nike and Adidas-Saloman have run into trouble with a charitable group.

Jamaica’s government is putting its fourth cellular licence up for tender. The successful applicant will be entitled to design a telecommunications network to launch a range of mobile services from March 1, 2003.

Ashleigh Lezard

British company Dyson is moving its vacuum cleaner production to the Far East, causing job losses in the UK.

Ashleigh Lezard

There was a dramatic drop in global FDI in 2001, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and the Ernst & Young European Investment Monitor. World FDI inflows declined sharply in 2001, by just over 40%. In its latest investment prospects report, the EIU predicted a pause in flows of FDI in 2002. “In this year’s report our projections show a lull in 2002 with flows increasing strongly again in 2003 and continuing to grow over the medium term,” said Daniel Franklin, the EIU’s editorial director.

Governments must understand that foreign direct investment brings responsibilities as well as benefits. Failing to realise this can lead to a government paying out millions in compensation.