Investment Policy Monitor
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The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with up-to-date, country-specific information on recent policy developments affecting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Through its ongoing monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD delivers cutting-edge and forward-looking contributions to investment policy discourse. The Monitor also supports evidence-based policymaking aimed at ensuring that foreign investment contributes to sustainable development. The Monitor also informs the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends featured in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitor publications and the joint UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Investment Measures.
UNCTAD has tracked changes in national policies affecting FDI on an annual basis since 1992. Over time, the methodology has been revised to enhance the quality and consistency of reporting. The most recent revision, completed in 2024, further refined the monitoring framework and applied the updated classification to policy measures dating back to 2012.
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UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor The UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor database compiles official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting foreign investment (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures that have a clear impact on such 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 to investors is based solely on their potential impact on investors. The type of measures included in each category are described below. This classification does not reflect any value judgement by UNCTAD on the merit or suitability of the measure.
Classification of the nature of measures
More favourable to investors
Liberalization: includes privatization; lifting of entry restrictions (e.g. opening of sectors to FDI) and entry conditions (e.g. minimum capital requirement); removal (total or partial) of FDI screening or approval mechanisms; lifting of foreign exchange restrictions; liberalization of land access.
Facilitation: includes streamlining of investment procedures (e.g. one-stop shops); greater transparency of investment-related laws and procedures (e.g. information portals); introduction by IPAs and other entities of new services to assist investors (e.g. linkages programmes, investor visa facilitation or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms).
Promotion: includes establishment of IPAs or other institutions with a remit as investment promoters and expansion of their mandate; adoption of investment promotion strategy and plans; introduction of PPPs, auctions, and concessions initiatives or framework; introduction of OFDI promotion initiatives.
Incentives: includes adoption of new tax and financial incentives schemes for investment; introduction of other incentives (e.g. citizenship by investment programmes); adoption of new SEZ-related incentives.
Other regulatory changes: includes enhancement of investor treatment and protection guarantees; easing of labour or migration regulations concerning foreign hires and key personnel; removal of operational restrictions on investment (e.g. local content requirements).
Less favourable to investors
Entry: includes introduction or tightening of entry restrictions (e.g. total or partial ban on FDI in specific sectors); introduction or tightening of entry conditions (e.g. minimum investment threshold, joint venture requirements or State participation in strategic sectors); introduction or expansion of screening mechanisms for national security.
Treatment and operations: includes introduction or expansion of foreign exchange restrictions; introduction or expansion of restrictions on foreign hires and key personnel; removal or reduction of investment incentives; introduction or expansion of post-establishment requirements for local content; reduction of guarantees for investment treatment and protection; introduction or expansion of restrictions on OFDI.
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
11 results
Singapore
07 Mar 2025Eases foreign work permit regulations
On 7 March 2025, Singapore announced changes to its Foreign Workforce Policy. The key amendments are as follows: Extension of the M-SEP scheme. As of 1 May 2025, the Manpower for Strategic Economic Priorities (M-SEP) scheme will [...]
Singapore
28 Mar 2024Introduced a screening regime for national security
On 9 January 2024, the Parliament of Singapore enacted the Significant Investments Review Act. This legislation introduces a new investment management regime to regulate entities critical to Singapore’s national security interests. [...]
Singapore
16 Feb 2024Introduced a new Refundable Investment Credit (RIC) to promote FDI
On 16 February 2024, the Government of Singapore introduced a new Refundable Investment Credit (RIC) for investment promotion. The RIC encourages companies to make sizeable investments that bring substantive economic activities to [...]
Singapore
15 Mar 2023Raised the minimum investment required for foreign investors to obtain permanent-resident status
On 15 March 2023, the Government of Singapore raised the minimum investment required for foreign investors who seek permanent resident (PR) status. The aim of this move is to generate more employment opportunities for locals, benefit [...]
Singapore
05 Mar 2022Enacts sanctions against the Russian Federation on strategic goods and financial activities
On 5 March 2022, the Government of Singapore announced that, in order to constrain the Russian Federation’s capacity to conduct its war in Ukraine and cyber aggression, it revised the Strategic Goods Control System, which regulates [...]
Singapore
04 May 2020Launching fast track patent program
On 4 May 2020, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) launched the SG Patent Fast Track Program, which aims to expedite the application-to-grant process of patents in all technology fields to six months, compared to the [...]
Singapore
06 Jul 2018The Amount of Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty Raised for Foreigners
Effective 6 July 2018, Singapore changed the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) levied on the occasion of the acquisition of residential property in Singapore. The amount of the ABSD is calculated on the value of the property, and [...]
Singapore
03 Aug 2017Introduced an enhanced visa scheme to attract promising foreign startup talents
Effective from 3 August 2017, Singapore introduced an enhanced 'EntrePass' scheme to attract global startup talents to build innovative businesses. The new scheme has broadened the evaluation criteria for global start-up founders to [...]
Singapore
10 Mar 2017Amends the Companies Act and Limited Liability Partnerships Act
On 10 March 2017, the Parliament passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Limited Liability Partnerships (Amendment) Bill. Key changes include: (1) Stricter disclosure requirements will be applied to make the ownership and control [...]
Singapore
14 Mar 2016Parliament revised legislation to grant more tax incentives for firms supporting pioneering activities
On 14 March 2016, the Parliament passed an amendment to the Economic Expansion Incentives Act. According to the revised Act, firms that are awarded the "pioneer certificate" by the government will be entitled to the maximum tax relief [...]
Singapore
14 Feb 2012Allows law practices more flexibility
Singapore announced the implementation of a package of measures to give Singapore Law Practices (SLPs) greater flexibility to grow and work more closely with Foreign Law Practices(FLPs) in the second quarter of 2012. Inter alia, foreign [...]
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The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with up-to-date, country-specific information on recent policy developments affecting foreign direct investment (FDI).
Through its ongoing monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD delivers cutting-edge and forward-looking contributions to investment policy discourse. The Monitor also supports evidence-based policymaking aimed at ensuring that foreign investment contributes to sustainable development. The Monitor also informs the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends featured in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitor publications and the joint UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Investment Measures.
UNCTAD has tracked changes in national policies affecting FDI on an annual basis since 1992. Over time, the methodology has been revised to enhance the quality and consistency of reporting. The most recent revision, completed in 2024, further refined the monitoring framework and applied the updated classification to policy measures dating back to 2012.
-
UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor The UNCTAD Investment Policy Monitor database compiles official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting foreign investment (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures that have a clear impact on such 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 to investors is based solely on their potential impact on investors. The type of measures included in each category are described below. This classification does not reflect any value judgement by UNCTAD on the merit or suitability of the measure.
Classification of the nature of measures
More favourable to investors
Liberalization: includes privatization; lifting of entry restrictions (e.g. opening of sectors to FDI) and entry conditions (e.g. minimum capital requirement); removal (total or partial) of FDI screening or approval mechanisms; lifting of foreign exchange restrictions; liberalization of land access.
Facilitation: includes streamlining of investment procedures (e.g. one-stop shops); greater transparency of investment-related laws and procedures (e.g. information portals); introduction by IPAs and other entities of new services to assist investors (e.g. linkages programmes, investor visa facilitation or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms).
Promotion: includes establishment of IPAs or other institutions with a remit as investment promoters and expansion of their mandate; adoption of investment promotion strategy and plans; introduction of PPPs, auctions, and concessions initiatives or framework; introduction of OFDI promotion initiatives.
Incentives: includes adoption of new tax and financial incentives schemes for investment; introduction of other incentives (e.g. citizenship by investment programmes); adoption of new SEZ-related incentives.
Other regulatory changes: includes enhancement of investor treatment and protection guarantees; easing of labour or migration regulations concerning foreign hires and key personnel; removal of operational restrictions on investment (e.g. local content requirements).
Less favourable to investors
Entry: includes introduction or tightening of entry restrictions (e.g. total or partial ban on FDI in specific sectors); introduction or tightening of entry conditions (e.g. minimum investment threshold, joint venture requirements or State participation in strategic sectors); introduction or expansion of screening mechanisms for national security.
Treatment and operations: includes introduction or expansion of foreign exchange restrictions; introduction or expansion of restrictions on foreign hires and key personnel; removal or reduction of investment incentives; introduction or expansion of post-establishment requirements for local content; reduction of guarantees for investment treatment and protection; introduction or expansion of restrictions on OFDI.
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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