New year brings fresh challenges for Ecuador’s Moreno

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Natural Support ◽  
International Investors ◽  
The Right

Subject Moreno's challenges. Significance President Lenin Moreno begins 2019 with a new vice-president -- his third so far -- and a deeply divided party. Worsening relations between himself and his predecessor are polarising his natural support base. While he has managed to consolidate his position by forming alliances with the right, he remains in a vulnerable position, and will face major political challenges over the coming year. Impacts Moreno’s continued drift to the right will please international investors and help his government attract foreign direct investment. Moreno’s line on Venezuela signals alignment with regional right-wing governments and a further break with Correa’s foreign policy. Political tensions will build as the local elections approach -- isolated episodes of violence will almost certainly occur.

South African foreign policy will see cosmetic changes

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
South African ◽  
Security Council ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Investment Climate ◽  
Government Bonds ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Un Security Council

Subject South African foreign policy. Significance President Cyril Ramaphosa has focused largely on domestic issues in his first six months in office. However, a push for new foreign direct investment of 100 billion dollars over five years, coupled with the securing of a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council from 2019-20, have raised hopes of a fresh foreign policy approach across several fronts. Impacts Despite Ramaphosa's reassurances, radical land reform proposals could undermine attempts to improve the wider investment climate. New US tariffs on steel, aluminium and possibly automobiles could offset advantages from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Confidence-building economic measures will be necessary to stem the large sale of government bonds by foreigners.

Sinhalese-Muslim tensions will rise in Sri Lanka

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Free Speech ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
National Party ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parliamentary Elections

Significance President Maithripala Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP), which form the National Unity Government (NUG), performed poorly in last month’s local elections, in which former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) -- popular among Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists -- swept to victory. Sri Lanka’s next presidential and parliamentary elections are due in 2020. Impacts Tourism and foreign direct investment are likely to be adversely impacted by frequent communal clashes. Amid concern over social media’s use to orchestrate violence, Sri Lanka could introduce legislation that curbs free speech. Further violence would increase friction between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe, threatening the NUG’s stability.

Spanish government should survive its full term

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Open Space ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Political Uncertainty ◽  
Far Right ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People's Party ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
International Investors ◽  
The Right ◽  
Opinion Polls

Significance However, as opinion polls show that contending left- and right-wing party blocs are closer in terms of voting intentions, the government's performance and ability to collaborate with smaller parties remain key to the left’s ability to return for another term in office. Impacts Tight electoral competition between left and right points to a couple of years of political uncertainty for international investors. In the event of an early election, the most plausible scenario is a coalition of the centre-right People's Party and far-right Vox. The People's Party’s move further to the right could open space for the liberal Ciudadanos party to reclaim centrist support.

Barriers to foreign direct investment in the power sector: evidence from Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tareq Mahbub ◽  
Juthathip Jongwanich
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Power Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Interference ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that deter firms from pursuing foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh’s power sector. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a mixed-method approach comprising semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. A quantitative analysis including a one-way analysis of variance and analytical hierarchy process is also included. Findings The results reveal that political aspects are the most influential barriers impeding FDI in the power sector, followed by economic and financial, societal and regulatory aspects. Of the individual factors, land acquisition/rent/lease, corruption, political interference, an inadequate gas transmission system and a long independent power producers’ approval process are key obstacles deterring FDI in the power sector. The ownership structure matters in ranking decisions to conduct FDI. Practical implications The study can assist managers in identifying key factors that deter FDI in the power sector. It can also assist the government to establish the right policies for the sustainable development of FDI in the power sector. Originality/value This study is the first of its kind in Bangladesh’s power sector that analyzes the key barriers hindering FDI systematically. It also discusses policies on removing these barriers for sustainable development of FDI in the power sector.

Norway local polls suggest future government change

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Role ◽  
The Political ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
City Governments ◽  
Green Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Right ◽  
Government Change ◽  
First Time

Subject The political outlook following local elections in Norway. Significance September 14 local elections offered voters their first opportunity to pass judgement on the right-wing Conservative-Progress Party (FrP) government. The verdict was critical, with all government and pro-government parties losing ground compared with the last local elections in 2011, and the opposition gaining. In the most significant blow, the Conservatives lost control of Norway's largest cities. The populist, anti-immigration FrP seems to have suffered especially from joining the national government for the first time. Impacts The main opposition Labour Party is set to secure a leadership role in Norway's largest cities. The rising Green party is positioned to play kingmaker in several city governments. The government's response to the oil price drop and slowing economy will be key to its ability to recover from its setback.

Political manoeuvring will be key for Ecuador’s Lasso

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Vaccination Programme ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Assembly ◽  
Economic Liberalism ◽  
The Social ◽  
International Investors

Significance The conservative alliance that supported his election collapsed in mid-May, after his Creating Opportunities (CREO) failed to back the Social Christian Party (PSC) candidate for the National Assembly presidency, instead supporting Guadalupe Llori of the indigenous Pachakutik (PK). The decision illustrates the challenges that await Lasso as he attempts to navigate a legislature in which CREO has few seats. Impacts International investors will be buoyed by Lasso’s economic liberalism. Responsibility for economic recovery will fall largely on the private sector, making Ecuador more reliant on foreign direct investment. Lasso will hope to win popular support and build legitimacy by accelerating the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

“‘Nixon is With Us on China’: Raging Against the Dying of the Lobby”

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-396
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Crean
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Vice President ◽  
New Right ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Wing Base ◽  
Communist China ◽  
Informed Opinion ◽  
The Right ◽  
Public Relations Campaign

In the decade following its founding in 1955, the men who led the foreign policy lobby the Committee of One Million Against the Admission of Communist China to the United Nations faced little concerted opposition to their attempts at preventing even the most minor alterations in the U.S. policy of both isolating and containing Communist China. But beginning with the Fulbright Hearings on China in March 1966, the trend of informed opinion moved sharply against them, as liberal Democrats became newly emboldened and moderates in both parties switched sides, inverting the bipartisan consensus against change the Committee relied upon. The 1968 election of former Vice President Richard M. Nixon, who had served alongside Committee hero John Foster Dulles, seemed to offer them newfound hope. But when the “New Nixon” proved unreceptive to the entreaties of his one-time allies, the Committee mounted a furious public relations campaign to rally belatedly the right-wing base and influence public opinion. Its failure illustrated both the limits of power of American conservatives over U.S. foreign policy while détente was ascendant, and the discontinuity in priorities between the Old Right from which the Committee emerged and the New Right that left it behind.

Role of foreign direct investment – As a strategic move towards growth, economic integration and development

2021 ◽  
pp. 002072092199659
Author(s):  
Rima H BinSaeed
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Vision 2030 ◽  
International Investors ◽  
The Government

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with its developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure has shown a major progress in business opportunities for overseas investors. Saudi Arabia’s education sector is one of the most attractive investment opportunities for the foreign investors Earlier in 2019, 9 new foreign education enterprises were granted investor licenses, amounting to a total of $141mn of investment deals. The Saudi government introduced Saudi Vision 2030, an aspiring development plan that foresees vital prospects for foreign investors in the regions of education, housing, health and energy, amongst others. In 2016, Saudi Arabia permitted the procurement of 100% of assets by foreign investors in retail and wholesale trade. A privatisation program has also been introduced. The government also attempts to attract FDI in the regions of renewable energy and entertainment. A foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a vital role in local and international economy. Several opportunities and ventures are encouraged by Saudi Arabia to improve the standard of business and economical environments. To accomplish the finances for the projects SAGIA, the lawful authority is there to smooth the progress of investments, which encourages Saudi FDI prospective to grow simultaneously. FDI has a greater scope for diverse businesses and investing in to underdeveloped industrial sectors. FDI plays an important role in boosting the economy of Saudi Arabia by managing international investors who shares the huge portion of 34% in General GDP (Gross domestic product) of Saudi Arabia. This paper aims to review the literature to shed light on the steps taken by the government to increase FDI in the country and what are the current trends that are helping to fulfil VISION 2030.

scholarly journals Technology-sourcing investment abroad as an enhancer of Chinese MNEs’ innovative capabilities

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Gugler ◽  
Laura Vanoli
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Citation Analysis ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Knowledge Diffusion ◽  
Technological Capabilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Mnes ◽  
Firm Knowledge ◽  
Innovative Capabilities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on Chinese firms’ innovation processes that are induced by foreign direct investment abroad. The study uses a patent and citation analysis to examine the extent to which investments abroad contribute to enhancing these firms’ innovative capabilities. More specifically, this study focusses on the role of foreign location competitiveness as an asset to provide technological capabilities to Chinese affiliates. Design/methodology/approach – Patents are good indicators of firms’ innovative capabilities. Moreover, patents allow to track the inter-firm knowledge transfer through the citations of patents on which they are based. The authors use an OECD patent database called “OECD REGPAT July 2013” that compiles patents registered with the European Patent Office (EPO) over the period from 1986 to 2013. The authors focus the analysis on patents registered by Chinese multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) based in Europe because the authors assume inter alia that innovations patented by Chinese affiliates in Europe are registered with the EPO. The sample comprises 3,010 patents involving 5,749 citations that the authors have individually examined. Findings – The findings suggest that Chinese MNEs ability to generate innovation based on their own knowledge is low, with a self-citation rate of approximately 4 percent. Patents by Chinese MNEs are largely based on foreign patents, especially from developed economies (at least 90 percent). The citation analysis also suggests that 39.2 percent of citations represent domestic firms in the local recipient country. This subgroup of citations is categorized as follows: 1.04 percent are M&A linkages, 13.8 percent are cluster linkages, and 24.36 percent are localization linkages. The remaining 60.8 percent of the total sample demonstrates that firms do not necessarily need to be collocated in foreign locations with domestic firms to exchange assets. Research limitations/implications – Patent and citation analysis considers only a part of the inter-firm knowledge diffusion. Some innovations are not patented and tacit knowledge diffusion is not observable. Moreover, the analysis focusses only on Chinese outward foreign direct investment to Europe, but a large part of knowledge is accumulated in China thanks to inward foreign direct investment. Originality/value – Many scholars have scrutinized emerging markets multinational enterprises’ strategic asset-seeking investments abroad that are designed to upgrade the companies’ technological capabilities (Cui and Jiang, 2009; Zhang and Filippov, 2009; Huang and Wang, 2013; Amighini et al., 2014; De Beule et al., 2014; Nicolas, 2014). However, few studies analyze the results of these strategies in terms of innovation output.

Ecuador’s Lasso weathers early storm but clouds loom

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Tax Reform ◽  
The Political ◽  
Tax Reforms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Downward Pressure ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
International Investors

Significance He appears to have weathered this early political storm, achieving notable successes in areas such as tax reform. However, the political outlook remains uncertain, with a likely COVID-19 resurgence heralding new challenges in 2022. Impacts Containing the spread of the Omicron variant will be a priority for Lasso in the coming months. A pandemic resurgence would place downward pressure on economic growth and tax collection. Tax reforms will please international investors and support efforts to attract foreign direct investment to stimulate economic activity.

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