Investment Policy Monitor
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
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The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
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Investment Policy Measures
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Australia
01 May 2024Updates its Foreign Investment Policy
On 1 May 2024, recognizing that national security threats are increasing due to intensifying geopolitical competition, the Treasury announced reforms to streamline and strengthen Australia’s foreign investment framework, in order to [...]
Australia
09 Apr 2024Increases fees for the acquisition of dwellings by foreign investors
On 9 April 2024, the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Act 2024 came into force. Among other changes, the Act triples fees for foreign investment for the acquisition of established dwellings, and doubles [...]
Australia
01 Jan 2024Updates its Guidance Notes related to its foreign investment framework
On 1 January 2024, the Government of Australia updated five Guidance Notes related to its foreign investment framework. Here are the key updates: • Guidance Note 3 on agricultural land outlines the requirements for foreign investors [...]
Australia
04 Jul 2023Updates the Guidance Notes related to the foreign investment framework
In July 2023, the Government of Australia updated six Guidance Notes related to its foreign investment framework. Here are the key updates: • Guidance Note 1: Overview: Australia’s Foreign Investment Framework (issued on 1 July 2023) [...]
Australia
01 Jul 2023Issues Guidance No. 8 on National Security
On 1 July 2023, the Government of Australia issued Guidance No. 8 on National Security. The guidance is intended to provide information to investors on the operation of the foreign investment framework with regards to national security, [...]
Australia
01 Jul 2023Implements new Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets
On1 July 2023, Australia implemented a new Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets. Expanding on the previous registers for water interests and agricultural or residential land, the new Register records foreign interests [...]
Australia
24 Feb 2023Australia adopts further sanctions against the Russian Federation
On 24 February 2023, the Australian Government announced hat it had imposed further targeted financial sanctions targeted financial sanctions on 40 entities, including several companies active in the defence sector. It also introduced [...]
Australia
14 Apr 2022Adopts additional sanctions on Russian State-owned enterprises
On 14 April 2022, the Australian Government imposed targeted financial sanctions on 14 Russian State-owned enterprises of strategic and economic importance. The list includes defence-related entities such as transportation company [...]
Australia
13 Apr 2022Updates the Guidance Notes for foreign investment
On 13 April 2022, the Australian Treasury updated the Guidance Notes covering inter alia agriculture, commercial land, mining, residential land, and securities, available to investors to reflect the amendments made to the foreign investment [...]
Australia
02 Apr 2022Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Act 2022
On 2 April 2022, the second part of the amendments to the SOCI Act introduced by the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Act 2022 (SLACIP Act) entered into force. Among others, this new reform revisits [...]
Australia
01 Apr 2022Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment Regulations 2022
On 1 April 2022, the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment Regulations 2022 came into effect (the Regulations). The Regulations, which amend the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Regulation 2015, clarify certain aspects of [...]
Australia
13 Mar 2022Imposes targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on CEOs of investment conglomerates and others
On 13 March, additional targeted financial sanctions and travel bans were imposed by the Australian Government on 33 persons including Russian oligarchs, political and economic elites (such as CEOs of large corporations including Gazprom), [...]
Australia
26 Feb 2022Adopts financial sanctions and travel bans on additional entities from the Russian Federation
On 26 February, further targeted financial sanctions and travel bans were passed with an effective date of 27 February in respect of six entities (plus five of their directors) either linked to the Belarusian Armed Forces or Russian [...]
Australia
24 Feb 2022Imposes financial sanctions and travel bans on selected Russian entities
On 24 February 2022, the Australian Government designated several individuals and entities to be subject to targeted financial sanctions and travel bans, with an effective date of 25 February. The financial institutions included: IS [...]
Australia
02 Dec 2021Expands the list of critical assets subject to FDI approval
On 2 December 2021, the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Act 2021 (SLACI Act) entered into force. In light of increasing security threats identified during the legislative process, the Act fast-tracks certain [...]
Australia
01 Jul 2021Investor visa requirements tightened
On 1 July 2021, Australia revised its migration policy regime, through amendments of relevant laws which took effect on the same day. Visa holders in both the investor and significant investor categories are now required to invest [...]
Australia
14 May 2021New incentives to encourage investment
On 14 May 2021, the Australian Government introduced new tax, research and development, and innovation incentives to attract talented individuals and exceptional businesses to Australia. In its Budget 2021–22 Statement, the Government [...]
Australia
01 Jan 2021Tightening of the foreign investment review framework
On 9 December 2020, the Parliament passed legislation to reform the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act of 1975. The reforms, in force as of 1 January 2021, makes the $0 monetary threshold for mandatory screening of investments [...]
Australia
04 Sep 2020Reinstating certain monetary thresholds for leasehold interests
On 4 September 2020, the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment (Commercial Land Lease Threshold Test) Regulations 2020 entered into force. The Regulations, which apply in all states of Australia, reinstate monetary thresholds [...]
Australia
29 Mar 2020Temporarily tightened its rules on foreign takeovers
On 29 March 2020, the Australian government announced temporary changes to the foreign investment review framework that are designed to protect national interests while dealing with the economic implications of the spread of COVID-19. [...]
Australia
10 Mar 2020New Foreign Financial Services Regulation
On 10 March 2020, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission published new regulations for Foreign Financial Services Providers (FFSPs) providing financial services to Australian wholesale clients. The new framework has two [...]
Australia
26 Sep 2018Revised guidance on foreign purchases of agricultural land
On 25 September 2018, the Australian government issued revised guidelines on the application of the requirement for an open and transparent sale process for foreign purchases of agricultural land, a requirement that had been made explicit [...]
Australia
02 Jul 2018New Online Application Portal
The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) Application Portal has opened on 2 July 2018. All non-residential applications for foreign investment must now be lodged through this Portal (https:// portal.firb.gov.au/). [...]
Australia
01 Jul 2018Some Australian states increase foreign investors' property surcharges
Some Australian states introduced or increased surcharges on foreign owners and acquirers of residential real estate. In the reporting period, changes came into force for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Queensland and Tasmania: [...]
Australia
11 Apr 2018Legislates the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
On 11 April 2018, the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 received assent. The Act creates a framework for managing critical infrastructure by establishing a non-public register of critical infrastructure assets, and by collecting [...]
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UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
-
The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Share
Latest publications
