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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- Ecuador - Adopts PPP regime, SEZ regime and several new investment incentives
Ecuador
Adopts PPP regime, SEZ regime and several new investment incentives
20 Dec 2023On 20 December 2023, Ecuador published the Law on Economic Efficiency and Employment Generation in the Official Gazette, which contains various tax reform measures, including:
New Temporary Tax Residence Regime for Individuals: This regime applies to qualifying individuals who will only pay income tax on income sourced within Ecuador for up to five years. Eligibility requires that individuals have not been previously tax residents in Ecuador, including prior to the law's enactment. Qualification criteria include either an investment of at least $150,000 in real estate or productive activities in Ecuador for a minimum of five years, or proven income of at least $2,500 per month not sourced from Ecuador, coupled with enrolment in social security (IESS) during their stay in Ecuador.
New Free Trade Zone Regime with Tax Benefits: This regime includes a zero per cent income tax rate for the first five years for qualified users, followed by a 15 per cent rate thereafter. It also offers exemptions from value-added tax (VAT), remittance tax, foreign trade taxes, and other taxes on transactions within free trade zones. Additionally, there are VAT refunds for purchases from suppliers outside the free trade zones in Ecuador.
Income Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Investments: New investments in renewable energy projects, as well as the production, industrialization, transportation, supply, and marketing of natural gas and green hydrogen, are exempt from income tax for ten years.
Income Tax Exemption for Tourism Investments: New investments of at least $100,000 in tourism are exempt from income tax for seven years, provided that at least 10 per cent of the investment is allocated to rural tourism.
New Public-Private Projects Regime: This applies to public investment projects related to infrastructure, public services, and strategic services. The regime allows for a maximum contract term of up to 30 years, with a possible extension of 10 years, and a minimum term of five years.
Nature of measure:
- Promotion
- Incentives
Type:
- Entry and establishment (Ownership and control)
- Promotion and facilitation (Investment incentives, Special economic zones)
Industry:
- Services (Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, Construction, Transportation and storage, Accommodation and food service activities, Telecommunications)
Inward FDI:
NoOutward FDI:
NoSources:
- Registro Oficial, LEY ORGÁNICA DE URGENCIA ECONÓMICA “LEY ORGÁNICA DE EFICIENCIA ECONÓMICA Y GENERACIÓN DE EMPLEO”, http://esacc.corteconstitucional.gob.ec/storage/api/v1/10_DWL_FL/eyJjYXJwZXRhIjoicm8iLCJ1dWlkIjoiMmZiYzQ0ODYtOWUwNS00YjJkLWI0MzQtYWJjMGM5NjkyY2RhLnBkZiJ9, 20 Dec 2024
- PBP, Se publica en el Registro Oficial la Ley Orgánica de Eficiencia Económica y Generación de Empleo, https://www.pbplaw.com/publicaciones/se-publica-en-el-registro-oficial-la-ley-organica-de-eficiencia-economica-y-generacion-de-empleo/, 20 Dec 2024
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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
