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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China
01 Nov 2024Eases rules for foreign investment in listed companies
On 1 November 2024, China issued revised regulations for foreign investment in its listed companies, set to take effect on 2 December 2024. The new regulations lower the minimum overseas assets requirement for strategic investors from [...]
China
09 May 2024Introduces subsidies for foreign investment in manufacturing and services in selected regions
On 9 May 2024, the provincial Government of Guangdong announced a new policy to attract FDI, offering rewards of up to approximately $21 million to eligible foreign investment enterprises. Under the policy, which is due to last until [...]
China
08 Apr 2024Removes all access restrictions to manufacturing sector from the ‘negative list’ for foreign investment
On 8 April 2024, some sectoral restrictions to foreign investors were abolished with the adoption of the 2024 edition of a “negative list”. The number of restricted sectors for foreign investment was reduced from 31 in the 2021 version [...]
China
08 Apr 2024Allows 100 per cent foreign ownership in certain value-added telecommunication services
On 8 April 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a Circular on Launching the Pilot Program for Expanding the Opening-up of Value-Added Telecommunications Services (VATS). Previously, foreign investment [...]
China
01 Sep 2023Shanghai allows expatriates working for foreign-invested companies to transfer their income abroad without restrictions
On 1 September 2023, the Government of Shanghai released the Regulations 2023 No.19, which allowed expatriates working for foreign-invested enterprises operating in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone and Lingang New Area to transfer [...]
China
01 Sep 2023Eased capital transfer policy for foreigners in Shanghai to woo foreign investment
On 1 September 2023, a new capital control policy was implemented, which allows expatriates working for foreign enterprises in the Shanghai free trade zone — including those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, Province of China — to [...]
China
29 Mar 2023Launched year-long campaign to attract foreign investment
On 29 March 2023, the Government of China kicked off a campaign, themed "Invest in China," a move to attract foreign investment and help foreign companies better understand China's opportunities.The event, initiated and organized by [...]
China
25 Oct 2022Expands list of manufacturing sectors open to foreign investment
On 25 October 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the 2022 list of sectors for foreign investment, which has been expanded to encourage foreign capital to flow into manufacturing sectors. The new list [...]
China
08 Oct 2022Tests the selective opening of tourism to foreign investment in Tianjin, Shanghai, Hainan, and Chongqing
On 8 October 2022, the State Council issued a notice stating that service sectors including tourism and elderly care will be open to foreign investment in some of China’s largest cities, effective from the same day. The measures are [...]
China
15 Mar 2022Enhances facilitatation of foreigners' work permits in Guangzhou
On March 15, 2022, the Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau simplified and standardized the handling of foreigners' work permits to improve Guangzhou’s business environment and attract more talents to work in the Greater Bay Area [...]
China
01 Jan 2022Issued new Negative List for Foreign Direct Investment
On 27 December 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the 2021 Negative List for Foreign Investment Access, which replaced the 2020 edition and took effect on 1 January 2022. [...]
China
22 Oct 2021Issues the "14th Five-Year Development Plan for Utilizing Foreign Capital"
On 22 October 2021, the Ministry of Commerce issued the "14th Five-Year (2021-2025) Plan for the Utilization of Foreign Capital". The plan indicates that China will open up further to foreign investment, by reducing the negative list [...]
China
10 Jun 2021Adopts Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law
On June 10, 2021, the National People’s Congress passed the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law with immediate effect. The Law introduces a legal framework to respond to foreign sanctions with counter-sanctions. According to the Law, individuals [...]
China
20 Apr 2021Opens several services sector to FDI in Tianjin, Shanghai, Hainan, and Chongqing
On April 20, 2021, China approved comprehensive pilot programs on the opening the service sector to FDI in the Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing municipalities, and in Hainan province. The 12 service sectors to be further opened in [...]
China
10 Mar 2021Abolishing the restrictions on foreign shareholding in joint venture life insurance companies
On 10 March 2021, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission revised the Rules for the Implementation of the Administrative Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Foreign-invested Insurance Companies. The new Rules [...]
China
25 Feb 2021New Circular on Building a New Development Pattern and Effectively Stabilizing Foreign Investment
On 25 February 2021, the People's Republic of China issued the "Circular on Centering on Building a New Development Pattern and Effectively Stabilizing Foreign Investment". The Circular, which took effect on the same day, demands all [...]
China
01 Feb 2021Releasing Special Administrative Measures for the Access of Foreign Investment in Hainan Free Trade Port (2020 Edition)
On 31 December 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce released the Special Administrative Measures for the Access of Foreign Investment in Hainan Free Trade Port (2020 Edition), also dubbed [...]
China
27 Jan 2021Duty Exemption for Foreign Investment in Encouraged Industries
On 26 January 2021, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) released the Announcement on Issues concerning the Implementation of the Catalogue of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment. According to the announcement, starting [...]
China
09 Jan 2021New Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Measures
On January 9, 2021, the Ministry of Commerce released the Measures for Blocking Improper Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Laws and Measures (“Measures”), with immediate effect. The Measures state that Chinese citizens, legal [...]
China
27 Dec 2020New version of Catalogue of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment
On 27 December 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce issued the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment (2020 Version) to be implemented from 27 January 2021, replacing [...]
China
19 Dec 2020Measures on National Security Review of Foreign Investment
On December 19, 2020, China's National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce jointly issued the Measures on Security Review of Foreign Investment. The Measures will take effect on 18 January 2021. Broadly speaking, [...]
China
16 Dec 2020Releasing 2020 Negative List for market access
On 16 December 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce unveiled the Market Access Negative List (2020), with immediate effect. Compared with the 2019 version, the new list has been shortened [...]
China
24 Nov 2020Shanghai introduces support policies to encourage foreign R&D centers
On 24 November 2020, Shanghai’s Municipal Government released the Regulations on Encouraging the Establishment and Development of Foreign-funded Research and Development Centers. The Regulations will be in effect from 1 December 2020 [...]
China
01 Nov 2020Shanghai adopts new foreign investment regulations
On 25 September 2020, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress adopted the Shanghai Regulations on Foreign Investment, effective from 1 November 2020 (the Shanghai FDI Regulations). The regulations will apply to all foreign investment [...]
China
18 Oct 2020Giving Shenzhen greater autonomy to attract investment
On 18 October 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission published a list of reforms for Shenzhen that include steps for financial markets, intellectual property protection, economic legislation and talent attraction. Key [...]
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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
