scholarly journals Measuring the inward FDI potential of South African regions

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Krugell ◽  
M. Matthee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
South African ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Skills Transfer ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Investment Promotion

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to construct an index that captures the factors expected to affect a local economy's attractiveness to foreign investors. Problem statement: Following South Africa's reintegration into the world economy in 1994, foreign direct investment has been seen as a potential driver of growth and development. Concerns about the low investment rate in South Africa raise the possibility of augmenting domestic with foreign investment expenditure. The potential of technology spillovers and skills transfer from foreign direct investment have also been emphasised. As a result, Trade and Investment South Africa is involved in identifying, packaging and promoting investment opportunities. However, investments tend to be place-specific and this has lead to the decentralisation of foreign direct investment promotion. Currently the nine provincial development agencies are competing to attract investors and the larger local governments are also getting involved in the fray. This paper argues that some places have better potential to attract foreign investment than others. A first step to use scarce investment promotion resources more efficiently would be to measure the inward FDI potential of South African regions. Approach: This paper uses principal components analysis to construct an index that captures the factors expected to affect a local economy's attractiveness to foreign investors. This approach draws on UNCTAD's Inward FDI Potential Index and applies it to 354 magisterial districts in South Africa for the periods 1996, 2001 and 2006. The index creates a summary measure of FDI potential.Findings: The results show that different places present differential potential in urbanization and localization economies and market size. The high-potential locations are typically found in or around the major agglomerations, but there are a few smaller places on the periphery that offer FDI potential. Contribution: The index should aid the location decisions of prospective investors as well as local policymakers in their efforts to promote FDI-led economic development. Conclusion: The places with high FDI potential are not randomly scattered across South Africa, but tend to cluster together. Cities and towns can improve their attractiveness to foreign investors through the exploitation of natural resources, population growth, economic growth and strengthening links to metropolitan areas.

scholarly journals Investment promotion in the South African manufacturing industry: incentive comparisons with Malaysia and Singapore

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha SI Wentzel ◽  
Maxi Steyn
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
South African ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
The South ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Investment Promotion ◽  
Inward Foreign Direct Investment

South Africa needs to increase its inward foreign direct investment in order to achieve economic growth. The purpose of this article is to explore which intervention could be launched in the short term to enhance the country's attractiveness for foreign investors. The findings of the literature review demonstrated that incentives, as a determinant of investment, are the short-term intervention with the most significant potential to attract additional foreign direct investment. A comparative study, which provided insight into the incentives that are currently offered to the manufacturing sectors of three countries (South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore), assisted in identifying two additional incentives that the South African government could introduce and three existing incentives that could be amended. The introduction or modification of these incentives could ensure that South Africa has a competitive advantage to attract investment from foreign investors and thereby increase South Africa's inward foreign direct investment in the manufacturing industry.

scholarly journals FEATURES OF GLOBAL INVESTMENT POLICY: MODERN TRENDS AND PROSPECTS

2019 ◽  
pp. 142-148
Author(s):  
Larisa Germanovna Chuvakhina
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
World Economy ◽  
International Investment ◽  
Investment Policy ◽  
Investment Promotion ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World

The article highlights the current problems of investments in the development of the world economy, when international investment needs are significantly high. The priority is given to the issues of investment resources for achieving the goals of sustainable development of the world economy. It has been stated that for creating the effective economic policy, the countries need to attract foreign investment. The current trends in the development of global market for foreign direct investment flows are examined. The flows of global foreign direct investment in 2017-2018 are analyzed. Special attention is given to the study of the US investment policy. The reduction in US investments into the Russian economy in terms of the sanctions policy against Russia is marked. The changes in the investment policy of the administration of D. Trump in terms of strengthening American protectionism are underlined. The issues of US-EU investment cooperation are considered. The role of the US Federal Reserve in regulating the activities of foreign companies in the US market is defined. The main decisions taken at the X World Investment Forum of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in October, 2018 are considered. The role of investment promotion agencies is defined as one of the tools to attract foreign investments into the country's economy. The decrease in the level of international investment and increased competition between countries for attracting foreign investment is stated. The study confirms that the investment attractiveness of the country, stability of the national financial system, and legal security of business play a decisive role in attracting foreign direct investment.

scholarly journals Determinants of foreign direct investment in Lesotho: evidence from cointegration and error correction modeling

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106
Author(s):  
Malefa Rose Malefane
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
South African ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Promotion Strategy ◽  
Investment Promotion ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Red Tape ◽  
Error Correction Modeling

Over the past decade, Lesotho has recorded a substantial increase in levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow, part of it prompted by trade privileges. Building on the extant literature, this study provides an empirical analysis of determinants of FDI in Lesotho. The study looks at how macroeconomic stability, regulatory frameworks, political stability and market size affect FDI.  The evidence from this study shows that some of the foreign enterprises in Lesotho are there to serve a bigger South African market. Also, the country has benefited from a more export-oriented investment promotion strategy. Critical issues however remain that must be addressed if the country is to attract more FDI and retain existing investors .These issues pertain to bureaucratic red-tape, corruption and political instability.

Fading FDI faces increasing challenges in Chile

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Public Infrastructure ◽  
Sharp Drop ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Investment Promotion ◽  
The Government

Subject The fall in foreign investment last year. Significance The government has launched a new Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (APIE) to buck a sharp drop in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year. Breaking with the country's long-standing sector-agnostic approach, the agency will seek to attract investment to specific sectors, including energy, public infrastructure and the food industry. Impacts A more business-friendly administration in Argentina could potentially divert FDI from Chile. Critics of the new FDI regulation maintain that it will dampen inflows. Efforts to attract investment in food and mining services represent a bid to diversify from mineral exports.

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Dynamic Effect of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Interest Rates on GDP in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5(J)) ◽  
pp. 29-37
Author(s):  
Thomas Habanabakize ◽  
Daniel F Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
South African ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Repo Rate

Economic growth in South Africa has been in the “doldrums” for the past decade. If well managed, foreign direct investment (FDI) and repo rate (interest rate) could have a positive impact and assist in rapid economic growth so urgently needed in South Africa. FDI has been a driving force for growth in many developing economies. Not enough has been done to attract FDI in South Africa. The country has enormous ability and capacity to attract FDI inflows and to have the advantages from it. A quantitative research approach was used to analyse the association amongst the variables which include FDI, GDP and repo rate in the South African economy. The South African Reserve Bank database was used and the period analysed is from 2000 to 2016. Statistical and econometric methods such as correlation analysis, unit root tests, ARDL Bounds test for cointegration, an error correction model (ECM), and the Granger causality tests were used. Subsequently, after the econometric model was estimated, findings indicated the existence of a long-run relationship between the three variables. While, a significant positive relationship exists between FDI and GDP, a negative long-run relationship was found between GDP and repo rate and interestingly a nonsignificant relationship between repo rate and FDI. In the short run, the positive effect of FDI on GDP is minimal whilst a significant and positive relationship exists between GDP and repo rate. The results did also show some limitations in the results, with regards to FDI and repo rate that there is no significant relationship between the variables, meaning that repo rate does not have an impact on FDIs. Although some long-run evidence was found of FDI playing a role in economic growth in South Africa, such impact is limited. Also very interesting is that the repo rate and FDI do not have a statistically significant relationship. This could be due to the rising risks associated with investments in the country. In conclusion, there are many variables which could have a positive impact on the attraction of FDIs and such factors will be explored further in future studies. 

scholarly journals Protection of Foreign Investment in Central Asia

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-150
Author(s):  
Farruhbek Muminov
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
International Investment ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Investment Policies ◽  
National Economies

Central Asia, with its abundance of natural resources and low labor costs, is often seen as an attractive destination for foreign investment. The inflow of foreign investment into Central Asia has significantly increased in recent decades, and this phenomenon supports the improvement of both national economies and the welfare of the region. Still, Central Asia is not classified as a low-risk destination for foreign investment because of inadequate protection of foreign investment – particularly a lack of transparency and predictability in Central Asia states’ FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) regimes. Furthermore, international organizations (such as the OECD) indicate that some countries in Central Asia do not have clear investment policies. These points pose problems for foreign investors who desire to invest in the region. From this perspective, this article analyzes the consistency of the general principles of foreign investment in Central Asia with international investment standards.

scholarly journals Travelling the National Route: South Africa's Protection of Investment Act 2015

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-263
Author(s):  
Tarcisio Gazzini
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
International Investment ◽  
Strong Response ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Public Rights ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Investment Treaties ◽  
Settlement Of Disputes

The South African Protection of Investment Act 2015 is a strong response to the perceived inadequacy of investment treaties, which are facing growing criticism for their unbalanced character, the undue restrictions on policy space and the shortcomings of the mechanism for the settlement of disputes. While other states have opted for a revision of their treaty models (i.e. India), concluded innovative BITs (i.e. the BIT between Morocco and Nigeria, not yet in force) or preferred facilitation agreements (i.e. Brazil), South Africa has taken a different route based on the assumption that domestic legislation is more appropriate than international legal instruments to regulate foreign investment. The Act is firmly anchored to the Constitution and provides a level of substantive and procedural protection that efficiently preserves South African sovereign prerogatives, but definitely falls short of that commonly ensured under international investment treaties. While states obviously need to balance the private and public rights and obligations at stake with a view to pursuing their economic and social development policies, it remains to be seen whether the drastic reduction in the protection of foreign investors operated by the Act was unavoidable and what impact it may have on the flow of foreign investment to South Africa. The article ultimately reflects on the implications of the Act from the standpoint of the protection enjoyed by foreign investors under both customary international law and investment treaties currently binding South Africa.

Domestic arbitral institutions and foreign direct investment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiwen Yin
Keyword(s):  
International Economic ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Fdi Inflows ◽  
Domestic Firms ◽  
Institutional Variable

Abstract Existing literature focuses on how domestic and international institutions address investor–state disputes and attract foreign direct investment (FDI). However, contractual disputes between foreign and domestic firms are largely neglected. For foreign investors, dispute resolution mechanisms that can effectively resolve contractual disputes are very important as well. In this article, I examine the effect of institutions that conduct arbitrations for disputes between foreign and domestic firms on FDI inflows. Focusing on the within-country variation of China, I find that provinces with CIETAC (China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission) agencies receive a higher level of FDI. These agencies attract FDI because they can credibly signal that local governments are truly willing to treat foreign investors fairly when they have disputes with local firms. In sum, this article highlights an institutional variable that has received little attention in the literature on the politics of FDI.

scholarly journals The global value chain dimension of foreign direct investment flows in the agro-industrial sector of South Africa, 2003–2014

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri Bezuidenhout ◽  
Sonja Grater ◽  
Ewert P.J. Kleynhans
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
South African ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Global Value Chain ◽  
African Countries

Orientation: African countries offer many investment opportunities and also urgently need global investment finance. Along the value chains of the agro-industrial sector there are many global challenges for African countries to attract foreign direct investment. This article investigates the investment flows in agro-industries and products to and from South Africa.Research purpose: This study evaluates the nature and dimensions of the agro-industrial sector that receive investment inflows in South Africa, as well as investigating South African investment patterns into Africa.Motivation for the study: Of particular interest is the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, their integration into global value chains and sustainable investment options.Research design, approach and method: Qualitative data and visual techniques using available data for the period 2003–2014 disambiguate the linkages in FDI patterns with regard to regions, industries and specific companies. Flows between regions and the specific companies are identified and studied.Main findings: The results indicate that the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are the largest investors in South Africa, with a strong focus on agricultural input production and subsequent agro-processing industries. South African investment into Africa follows a similar, albeit narrower and more focused, pattern. The study concludes that foreign multinational enterprises are actively involved in global value chain expansion and South African firms are following suit.Practical/managerial implications: The lack of FDI in actual agricultural crop production in Africa offers future investment opportunities.Contribution/value-add: This study creates a better understanding of how FDI in agriculture is linked to the development of regional value chains in the Southern African region. The methodology applies a novel approach to an important field of study, of which little knowledge exists, and may contribute to the creation of wealth in the countries of the region and the welfare of its population.

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