Investment Promotion and Facilitation for Sustainable Development

Investment is a critical component of sustainable development. In particular, under the right conditions, foreign direct investment (FDI) can improve economic growth and living standards, create jobs, transfer technology and know-how and result in supply chain upgrading. However, its benefits are not automatic, and, if not carefully governed, investment can result in harm to the environment, labour standards and lead to tax evasion or other undesirable outcomes. Investment promotion and investment facilitation, in turn, can help states attract, expand and retain FDI.

CCSI works on analyzing how investment promotion and facilitation measures can advance sustainable development objectives. Some of our work includes:

• CCSI Blog, “Can Existing International Agreements on ‘Investment Facilitation’ Advance Sustainable Development, Climate Action, and Human Rights?” (November 2023)
• A moderated panel on “Investment Facilitation: A Critical Stock-Taking” on November 16, 2021, as part of CCSI’s annual Speaker Series on International Investment Law and Policy
• A Briefing Note on Investment Promotion and Facilitation for Sustainable Development (July 2020)
• CCSI organized and co-taught a 3-day certificate course on “International Investment, Investment Promotion and Sustainable Development” with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (July 2018)
• CCSI Blog, “What Do We Mean by Investment Facilitation” (February 2018)