19 April 2012
Muscat: The number of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew by 16 per cent in 2011, according to fDi Intelligence.
The Middle East and Africa (MEA) attracted a total of 1,530 projects, according to a report released by fDi Intelligence. Capital investment was down slightly by 1 per cent and job creation up by 3 per cent. The top 10 countries for FDI attracted 64 per cent of projects and capital investment, and 54 per cent of jobs created.
South Africa was the best performing country in the region in 2011, with a 57 per cent increase in project numbers, 87 per cent growth in capital investment, and a 28 per cent rise in jobs created, making it the leading country in the region for job creation.
The United Arab Emirates attracted the highest number of projects, while Saudi Arabia attracted the most capital investment, which grew by 40 per cent in 2011 to just over $14 billion. However, this is still far below the $42 billion in capital investment recorded in Saudi Arabia in 2008.
UAE-based companies remained most active in FDI overseas, although the number of projects from UAE companies declined by 3 per cent in 2011 and capital investment overseas fell by 43 per cent. This was largely due to continued decline in real estate FDI, with UAE firms investing in 57 per cent less real estate projects in 2011 than 2010.
South African companies were the second most active in investing overseas, with a strong growth of 25 per cent more projects overseas, 93 per cent more capital investment and 65 per cent more job creation in 2011. While starting from a low volume, companies from Qatar, Mauritius, Togo and Botswana established their highest number of FDI projects overseas in 2011 since fDi Intelligence began recording FDI in 2003.
Muscat: The number of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew by 16 per cent in 2011, according to fDi Intelligence.
The Middle East and Africa (MEA) attracted a total of 1,530 projects, according to a report released by fDi Intelligence. Capital investment was down slightly by 1 per cent and job creation up by 3 per cent. The top 10 countries for FDI attracted 64 per cent of projects and capital investment, and 54 per cent of jobs created.
South Africa was the best performing country in the region in 2011, with a 57 per cent increase in project numbers, 87 per cent growth in capital investment, and a 28 per cent rise in jobs created, making it the leading country in the region for job creation.
The United Arab Emirates attracted the highest number of projects, while Saudi Arabia attracted the most capital investment, which grew by 40 per cent in 2011 to just over $14 billion. However, this is still far below the $42 billion in capital investment recorded in Saudi Arabia in 2008.
UAE-based companies remained most active in FDI overseas, although the number of projects from UAE companies declined by 3 per cent in 2011 and capital investment overseas fell by 43 per cent. This was largely due to continued decline in real estate FDI, with UAE firms investing in 57 per cent less real estate projects in 2011 than 2010.
South African companies were the second most active in investing overseas, with a strong growth of 25 per cent more projects overseas, 93 per cent more capital investment and 65 per cent more job creation in 2011. While starting from a low volume, companies from Qatar, Mauritius, Togo and Botswana established their highest number of FDI projects overseas in 2011 since fDi Intelligence began recording FDI in 2003.
© Times of Oman 2012
