Global foreign direct investment flows rebounded by 78 per cent in the first half of 2021 but the recovery has been uneven around the world, according to the UN.
Developed economies recorded the biggest increase while poor countries reported a decline, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said in its latest Investment Trends Monitor report.
Global FDI rose to an estimated $852 billion in the first six months of 2021, showing a "stronger-than-expected rebound momentum", the report said. The increase in the first two quarters recovered by more than 70 per cent from the coronavirus-induced loss recorded in 2020.
"While investment flows are back on a recovery path, this recovery is concentrated in the developed world," James Zhan, director of the investment and enterprise division at Unctad, said during the UN's seventh World Investment Forum on Tuesday.
"Developed economies are expected to drive FDI recovery, due to good progress with Covid vaccination programmes and large fiscal stimulus packages," he said.
"When it comes to investment in sectors relevant for the sustainable development goals, greenfield investment and project finance in developing regions dropped dramatically since the pandemic. This leaves behind the more vulnerable countries and puts at risk the achievement of the SDG 2030 Agenda."
The FDI flows of developed economies hit $424bn in the first half of 2021 – more than three times higher than the exceptionally low flows in 2020, Unctad said.
For example, inflows in the US were up by 90 per cent, driven entirely by a surge in cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
FDI flows into developing economies also increased significantly, totalling $427bn in the first half, with the pace of growth picking up by 25 per cent in East and South-East Asia.
Investment flows recovered to near pre-pandemic levels in Central and South America while sharp increases were reported in several other economies in Africa and western and central Asia.
Low-income economies recorded a further 9 per cent decline, Unctad data showed.
Investments were concentrated in infrastructure, boosted by favourable long-term financing conditions, recovery stimulus packages and overseas investment programmes, the UN body said.
International project finance deals were up 32 per cent in volume and 74 per cent in value, with sizeable increases in most high-income regions and in Asia and South America.
By contrast, investor confidence in industry and global value chains "remains shaky", Unctad said. Greenfield investment project announcements continued to fall in value and volume during the first three quarters of 2021.
The number of SDG-related investment projects in least developed countries continues to "decline precipitously", it said.
New greenfield project announcements and infrastructure project finance deals fell by 51 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively, more than the 28 per cent decline reported for both types in 2020. Total project values were up, inflated by a single, large renewable project.
"The rapid FDI recovery and the optimistic outlook mask the growing divergence in FDI flows between developed and developing economies, as well as the lag in a broad-based recovery of the greenfield investment in productive capacity," Mr Zhan said.
The global FDI outlook for the full year of 2021 has improved from earlier projections. The underlying trend – net of conduit flows, one-off transactions and intra-company financial flows – will be more muted than the rebound growth rates of the first half.
"However, the current momentum and the growth of international project finance are likely to bring FDI flows back beyond pre-pandemic levels," Mr Zhan said.
"The duration of the health crisis and the pace of vaccinations, especially in developing countries, as well as the speed of implementation of infrastructure investment stimulus, remain important factors of uncertainty," the Unctad report said.
Other risks to the outlook include labour and supply chain bottlenecks, energy prices and inflationary pressures, which will also affect the final year results, it said.
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Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)
Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),
Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),
Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm)
Benevento v Napoli (6pm)
Parma v Spezia (6pm)
Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)
Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
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Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
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15 years, 235 days old
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15 years, 271 days old
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16 years, 30 days old
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16 years, 68 days old
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
