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 operation: 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
12 results
Zimbabwe
07 Feb 2020Investment and Development Agency Act (Chapter 14;37)
The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Act (Chapter 14;37) which was gazetted on 7 February 2020 aims to promote and facilitate investment in the country. The Act establishes a One Stop Investment Services Centre (OSISC). [...]
Zimbabwe
07 Dec 2017Removal of majority indigenisation threshold, except for diamonds and platinum
The Government amended the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act (2008) to remove the majority indigenisation threshold, except for diamonds and platinum. The proposed amendments will confine the 51/49% indigenisation threshold [...]
Zimbabwe
12 May 2017Rebates for special economic zones
The Government has gazetted Statutory Instrument No 59 of 2017, allowing investors operating in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to be exempt from paying duty on imported capital equipment, materials and products. The regulations provide [...]
Zimbabwe
01 Jan 2017Incentives for investment in Special Economic Zones
In his 2017 national budget statement, presented to the Parliament on 8 December 2016, the Finance Minister stated that Zimbabwe will provide various kinds of tax incentives to investors including, inter alia, (i) exemption from corporate [...]
Zimbabwe
01 Nov 2016Entry into force of Special Economic Zones law
The Special Economic Zones Act [Chapters 14-34], which came into force in November 2016, provides for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Special Economic Zones Authority. Functions of the Authority include establishing SEZs, which [...]
Zimbabwe
13 May 2016Banking Amendment Act 2015 entered into force
The Banking Amendment Act (in force as of 13 May 2016), provides, inter alia, that without the permission of the Registrar, no domestic or foreign natural or legal persons, other than a financial institution, a registered controlling [...]
Zimbabwe
12 Feb 2016Zimbabwe Joint Ventures Act gazetted
The new Joint Ventures Act (JVA) (Chapter 22: 22, No 6/2015) defines a joint venture as a business agreement in which the parties agree to develop, for a finite term, a new entity and new assets by combining equity. It includes the [...]
Zimbabwe
04 Feb 2016Foreigners allowed to own up to 49 per cent of Zimbabwean companies
Following an announcement by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, foreign investors will be allowed to own up to 49 per cent of companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. The Bank’s Governor said the limit on foreign [...]
Zimbabwe
31 Jul 2012Minimum capital requirements raised
The 2012 Mid-Term Monetary Policy Review Statement, issued in the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act, provides that commercial and merchant banks whose current minimum capital requirements are US $10 million and US $12.5 million respectively [...]
Zimbabwe
01 Jan 2012Increasing royalties for gold and platinum industry
The 2012 National Budget raised the rates of royalties for gold and platinum extraction from 4.5 percent to 7 percent, and from 5 percent to 10 percent, respectively, effective 1 January 2012. [...]
Zimbabwe
15 Apr 2010Adopt Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (General) Regulation 2010
Zimbabwe adopted the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (General) Regulation 2010 (Statutory Instrument 21 of 2010) in March 2010. Inter alia, it requires companies operating in Zimbabwe to provide specified information to the [...]
Zimbabwe
01 Mar 2010Adopts Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Regulation
In March 2010 Zimbabwe adopted the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment (General) Regulation 2010 (Statutory Instrument 21 of 2010), which, inter alia, requires companies operating in Zimbabwe to provide specific information (including [...]
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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 operation: 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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