Four out of five international location experts from around the world believe that FDI is about to take off again, following three years of continuous decline in global foreign direct investment, according to a joint survey conducted by UNCTAD in Geneva and by Corporate Location Magazine in London. For 2004-2005, some 77 percent of the experts are predicting an improvement in the overall investment environment, 9 percent say it will worsen and 14 percent say it will remain the same. For 2006-2007, the level of optimism rises to 81 percent, while only 6 percent anticipate that things will get worse and just 13 percent say they will remain the same. China and India take the top positions as attractive destinations for FDI, with Thailand in third place. In the manufacturing sector, improved prospects are expected for motor vehicles and other transport equipment, machinery and equipment, chemicals and, to a lesser extent, electrical and electronic products, publishing and media services. In the services sector, banking and insurance, business services, tourism, transport, computer-related services, retail and wholesale trade will take the lead in attracting FDI in the years to come, experts believe. Asia-Pacific garners the most optimism of all regions in terms of its future FDI prospects. For both the short and medium term, 88 percent of the experts expect further improvement in those prospects, with the remaining 12 percent anticipating that they will remain the same. Not a single expert predicted any downturn in the region's prospects. More >>