GLOBAL INVESTMENT FALLS AGAIN – RISING RISKS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

What: Launch of the World Investment Report 2025 by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

When: Thursday, 19 June 2025 at 10:30 am Geneva Time (8:30 am GMT)

Where: Geneva – Hybrid Press conference (Zoom - link and password will be sent at a later stage, after your confirmation at unctadpress@unctad.org)

Why now:

The report is released just ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), offering timely insights on how global capital flows are evolving - and why the investment map is leaving many countries behind.

Key findings:

Global investment fell 11% in 2024, despite a 4% headline rise distorted by volatile financial flows.
Developing countries are under pressure. Inflows remain highly concentrated and well below the levels needed for sustainable development.
Project finance is collapsing in key infrastructure sectors: renewable energy (-31%), transport (-32%), and water and sanitation (-30%).
Digital investment rose 14%, but 80% of new projects went to just 10 countries - excluding most of the Global South.
This means:

For the third consecutive year, capital is retreating from the sectors that drive jobs, resilience, and clean growth. The investment gap is widening, not closing.

The report calls for:

Modernized investment rules that balance investor protection with public interest
Smarter blended finance focused on real development impact
Expanded support for digital inclusion
Reforms to unlock long-term, affordable finance for countries most in need