The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in its latest ‘Investment Trends Monitor’ report has stated that India has been ranked at the tenth position among the top host economies for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in 2017, backed by inflow of $45 billion overseas investment, while US, China and Hong Kong secured top three places in the list.
The report said that though the global flows of FDI fell by 16% in 2017 to an estimated $1.52 trillion from a revised $1.81 trillion in 2016, FDI in developing countries remained at a level similar to the previous year. Besides, it noted that developing Asia become largest investment destination with 2% increase in FDI amid the global slump and share of developing Asia in global inflows rose to 30% in 2017 from 25% in 2016, due to surge in value of cross border M&A sales.
As per the report, India witnessed a sharp increase in cross border deals in 2017, with surge in value of deals to $22 billion from $8 billion, on the back of a number of large deals including acquisition of 49% stake in Essar Oil, by Petrol Complex, Singapore owned by Rosneftegaz of Russia. The report further noted that globally the value of cross border M&A got contracted by 23% during the last year but developing economies saw increase of 44% in this value.