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
11 resultsCabo Verde
18 Apr 2024Adopts law on special economic zones in São Vicente
On 18 April 2024, Cabo Verde adopted Decree-Law No. 17/2024, establishing rules for the installation, operation, and registration of entities in Industrial Areas, Special Tourist Zones, and Integrated Free Trade Zones, managed by the [...]
Cabo Verde
30 Dec 2022State Budget Law for 2023 includes new incentives for R&D, innovation and renewables
Cape Verde published the State Budget Law for 2023 ( Law No. 16/X/2022) on 30 December 2022. It includes the following incentives: • R&D tax incentives from 2023 to 2038 for qualifying resident corporate taxpayers, as well as [...]
Cabo Verde
07 Jun 2022Decree on the Special Economic Zone of the Island of Maio offers Special Tax regime
Cabo Verde published Law 11/X/2022 on June 6, 2022, regulating the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of the Island of Maio. Eligible activities include agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, consulting, head office [...]
Cabo Verde
12 May 2022Creates a "Special Economic Zone for Technologies"
On 12 May 2022, Cabo Verde published in its Official Gazette, Decree-Law No. 15/2022. The Decree creates and regulates the Special Economic Zone for Technologies (ZEET). Located in the ‘Digital Islands Technological Park’, the ZEET [...]
Cabo Verde
12 Aug 2020Incentives and credits to encourage job creation
Cape Verde adopted Law No. 100/IX/2020 of 11 August 2020 with effect from 12 August 2020. It introduces a number of amendments, including, inter alia: • The granting of a corporate income tax or personal income tax credit of CVE20 [...]
Cabo Verde
01 Mar 2019Government privatises national airline
On 1 March 2019 the Government of Cabo Verde sold 51% of its stake in Transportadora Aérea Cabo-verdiana (TACV), the national airline, to Loftleidir Cape Verde (a subsidiary of Icelandair Group). Loftleidir had been managing the restructuring [...]
Cabo Verde
13 Nov 2015Adopted Decreto-Lei nº 63-2015 on Public-Private Partnerships
On 13 November 2015, Cabo Verde adopted Decreto-Lei nº 63-2015 providing a framework governing public-private partnerships (PPPs). The Law aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of partnerships between public entities and [...]
Cabo Verde
01 Jan 2013Introduces a tax incentives code
Law No 26/VIII/2013 (Tax Benefits Code) contains the general principles, contents and conditions for the granting of tax benefits. It grants, inter alia, a corporate income tax credit of up to 50 percent of the eligible investments [...]
Cabo Verde
11 Jul 2012Adopts investment code
The Investment Code of 2012 introduces arbitration as a mechanism for settling investment disputes between the Government and foreign investors under national and international dispute resolution rules. It also includes major legal [...]
Cabo Verde
07 Mar 2011Liberalizes the Legal Regime for the Provision of Services
The Government approved a set of principles and rules governing free access to the market by service providers. The goal of the new legal framework is to guarantee the freedom of establishment of services providers irrespective of [...]
Cabo Verde
01 Mar 2011Creates the Cape Verdean International Business Centre
It creates the International Business Centre of Cape Verde (IBC), which comprises (i) the International Industrial Centre (Industrial Free Zones), (ii) the International Centre for Commerce (Commercial Free Zones), and (iii) the International [...]
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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.
Share





Latest publications
