Investment Climate Assessment
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Publication
Recommendations for a National FDI Strategy and Roadmap for Uzbekistan: New Sources of Growth
(Washington, DC, 2022-06)The development of a new foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy for Uzbekistan comes at an important moment to support Uzbekistan’s new development objectives. The report provides core inputs and elements for the government of Uzbekistan to develop a new FDI strategy and roadmap to unlock new sources of growth. It leverages an assessment of Uzbekistan’s historical FDI performance and policy context and provides an analysis of current megatrends affecting the global landscape for FDI to identify sectors with high growth potential for FDI attraction in Uzbekistan. It articulates a vision and specific objectives related to FDI attraction for Uzbekistan and presents explicit, quantifiable objectives and targets to help maximize the contribution of FDI to Uzbekistan’s overall economic development goals. It considers relevant historical FDI trends as well as regional and global FDI trends and provides in-depth analysis of the feasibility and desirability of key sectors for FDI attraction that were selected with guidance from the government. To support effective implementation, the presented strategy should be underpinned by a detailed reform action plan and roadmap and a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework that can be applied by the government to monitor progress with implementing the FDI strategy. -
Publication
Deep-Dive on Malaysia’s Higher Education Services Trade: March 2022
(Washington, DC, 2022-04)Malaysia’s higher education sector expanded rapidly in the late 1990s, with the number of institutions peaking in 2001 and the number of international students peaking in 2017. Following improvements in the quality of local universities and the establishment of branches of international campuses in Malaysia, the country has become a net receiver of foreign students. Enhanced trade in the higher education sector, and the expansion of the sector, bodes well for Malaysia’s next phase of economic development. The objectives of this paper are to document the pattern of trade in higher education services in Malaysia and to analyze the main factors that constrain trade in this sector. First, the paper aims to document Malaysia’s higher education landscape and the pattern of trade in each of the four modes of services trade. Second, it seeks to identify key policy challenges and constraints affecting this sector. The paper employs a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and institutional research methods. The paper finds that despite numerous liberalization measures, a number of remaining restrictions and limitations continue to impact trade in the sector. The paper finds that the most significant policy challenges likely relate to domestic constraints. To attract foreign students and faculty members and to enhance trade in the higher education sector, it is crucial to ease the visa and immigration processes and rules. Furthermore, measures to enhance the digitalization of administrative processes at the regulatory agencies and at Higher Education Institution (HEIs) can increase efficiency, with the potential to reduce the burden associated with excessive documentation requirements. It is also crucial that agencies and universities systematically collect more data to better inform policy reforms and guide universities in how to improve their programs. -
Publication
Deep-Dive on Malaysia’s Digital Services Trade
(Washington, DC, 2022-03)The rapid expansion of digital technologies around the world has impacted many economic and social activities with increasingly reliable and fast Internet connectivity changing how people communicate, work, and live. Digital services have also played an important role in keeping the world connected and economies running during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore crucial that countries implement proactive polices to become more digitalized and target the creation of an inclusive digital economy in order to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Cross-border data transfer regulations also play an important role in supporting trade in digital services. The Malaysia digital economy report produced by the World Bank in 2018 examined three interrelated issues that are closely aligned with Malaysia’s own goal of becoming an e-commerce hub for the region. Building on this research agenda, this deep dive seeks to explain how the role of digital services trade can be enhanced to contribute to Malaysia’s competitiveness and integration into the global marketplace. The paper is structured as follows: section one gives introduction and context. Sections 2 and 3 benchmarks Malaysia’s digital preparedness (for example, in terms of Internet penetration ratios) against its structural, aspirational, and regional peers. Section 4 assesses the performance of Malaysia’s digital services trade and digital economy, including in sub-sectors such as e-commerce and FinTech which are both important elements of digitalization. Section 5 discusses the constraints to deeper integration and development of the digital sector in the Malaysian economy. Section 6 presents the main findings and makes policy recommendations. -
Publication
2022 Investment Policy and Regulatory Review - Brazil
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022)This investment policy and regulatory review (IPRR) presents information on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing foreign direct investment (FDI) in Brazil. Since legal and regulatory frameworks are constantly evolving, a cut-off date was set for the research. This country review, therefore, covers information available as of December 31, 2021, unless otherwise indicated in the review. IPRRs are available for the following middle-income countries (MICs): Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. This IPRR is organized as follows: section 1 gives an introduction. Section 2 provides an overview of the country’s investment policy framework, including the legal instruments regulating foreign investment, key institutions involved in investment promotion, as well as the country’s foreign investment promotion strategy; it also delineates the country’s international investment legal framework, including the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and select international investment agreements (IIAs); sections 3 to 6 cover the country’s policies and domestic legal framework concerning different dimensions of the lifecycle of an investment: entry and establishment (section 3), protection (4), incentives (5) and linkages (6); sections 7 and 8 explore emerging investment policy and regulatory areas. Section 7 considers outward FDI and section 8 responsible investment. Section 9 focuses on city-specific investment policy and regulatory measures in the largest commercial center; and section 10 covers FDI in the digital economy. -
Publication
2022 Investment Policy and Regulatory Review - Vietnam
(World Bank Group, Washington, DC, 2022)This Investment Policy and Regulatory Review (IPRR) is organized as follows: section two provides an overview of the country’s investment policy framework, including the legal instruments regulating foreign investment, key institutions involved in investment promotion, as well as the country’s foreign investment promotion strategy; it also delineates the country’s international investment legal framework, including the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and select international investment agreements (IIAs); sections three-six cover the country’s policies and domestic legal framework concerning different dimensions of the lifecycle of an investment: entry and establishment (section three), protection (four), incentives (five) and linkages (six); sections seven and eight explore emerging investment policy and regulatory areas, section seven considers outward FDI and section eight responsible investment; section nine focuses on city-specific investment policy and regulatory measures in the largest commercial center; and section 10 covers FDI in the digital economy. -
Publication
Indonesia - 2022 Investment Policy and Regulatory Review
(World Bank Group, Washington, DC, 2022)This Investment Policy and Regulatory Review (IPRR) is organized as follows: section two provides an overview of the country’s investment policy framework, including the legal instruments regulating foreign investment, key institutions involved in investment promotion, as well as the country’s foreign investment promotion strategy; it also delineates the country’s international investment legal framework, including the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and select international investment agreements (IIAs); sections three-six cover the country’s policies and domestic legal framework concerning different dimensions of the lifecycle of an investment: entry and establishment (section three), protection (four), incentives (five) and linkages (six); sections seven and eight explore emerging investment policy and regulatory areas, section seven considers outward FDI and section eight responsible investment; section nine focuses on city-specific investment policy and regulatory measures in the largest commercial center; and section 10 covers FDI in the digital economy. -
Publication
Mexico - 2022 Investment Policy and Regulatory Review
(World Bank Group, Washington, DC, 2022)This Investment Policy and Regulatory Review (IPRR) is organized as follows: section two provides an overview of the country’s investment policy framework, including the legal instruments regulating foreign investment, key institutions involved in investment promotion, as well as the country’s foreign investment promotion strategy; it also delineates the country’s international investment legal framework, including the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and select international investment agreements (IIAs); sections three-six cover the country’s policies and domestic legal framework concerning different dimensions of the lifecycle of an investment: entry and establishment (section three), protection (four), incentives (five) and linkages (six); sections seven and eight explore emerging investment policy and regulatory areas, section seven considers outward FDI and section eight responsible investment; section nine focuses on city-specific investment policy and regulatory measures in the largest commercial center; and section 10 covers FDI in the digital economy. -
Publication
2022 Investment Policy and Regulatory Review - China
(World Bank Group, Washington, DC, 2022)This Investment Policy and Regulatory Review (IPRR) is organized as follows: section two provides an overview of the country’s investment policy framework, including the legal instruments regulating foreign investment, key institutions involved in investment promotion, as well as the country’s foreign investment promotion strategy; it also delineates the country’s international investment legal framework, including the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and select international investment agreements (IIAs); sections three-six cover the country’s policies and domestic legal framework concerning different dimensions of the lifecycle of an investment: entry and establishment (section three), protection (four), incentives (five) and linkages (six); sections seven and eight explore emerging investment policy and regulatory areas, section seven considers outward FDI and section eight responsible investment; section nine focuses on city-specific investment policy and regulatory measures in the largest commercial center; and section 10 covers FDI in the digital economy. -
Publication
2022 Investment Policy and Regulatory Review - Malaysia
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022)This Investment Policy and Regulatory Review (IPRR) presents information on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia. Since legal and regulatory frameworks are constantly evolving, a cut-off date was set for the research. This country review therefore covers information available as of December 31, 2021, unless otherwise indicated in the review. This IPRR is organized as follows: Section 2 provides an overview of the country’s investment policy framework, including the legal instruments regulating foreign investment, key institutions involved in investment promotion, as well as the country’s foreign investment promotion strategy; it also delineates the country’s international investment legal framework, including the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and select international investment agreements (IIAs); Sections 3-6 cover the country’s policies and domestic legal framework concerning different dimensions of the lifecycle of an investment: entry and establishment (Section 3), protection (4), incentives (5) and linkages (6); Sections 7-8 explore emerging investment policy and regulatory areas - Section 7 considers outward FDI and Section 8 responsible investment; Section 9 focuses on city-specific investment policy and regulatory measures in the largest commercial center; and Section 10 covers FDI in the digital economy. -
Publication
2022 Investment Policy and Regulatory Review - Nigeria
(Washington, DC, 2022)This Investment Policy and Regulatory Review (IPRR) presents information on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nigeria. Since legal and regulatory frameworks are constantly evolving, a cut-off date was set for the research. This country review therefore covers information available as of December 31, 2021, unless otherwise indicated in the review. This IPRR is organized as follows: Section 2 provides an overview of the country’s investment policy framework, including the legal instruments regulating foreign investment, key institutions involved in investment promotion, as well as the country’s foreign investment promotion strategy; it also delineates the country’s international investment legal framework, including the country’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and select international investment agreements (IIAs); Sections 3-6 cover the country’s policies and domestic legal framework concerning different dimensions of the lifecycle of an investment: entry and establishment (Section 3), protection (4), incentives (5) and linkages (6); Sections 7-8 explore emerging investment policy and regulatory areas - Section 7 considers outward FDI and Section 8 responsible investment; Section 9 focuses on city-specific investment policy and regulatory measures in the largest commercial center; and Section 10 covers FDI in the digital economy.