1. Regulation of Foreign Direct Investment PATRICK ABOKO 23.01.2019
2. FDI What is it? ◦According to the IMF and OECD definitions, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) reflects the aim of obtaining a lasting interest by a resident entity of one economy (direct investor) in an enterprise that is resident in another economy (the direct investment enterprise). ◦The “lasting interest” implies the existence of a long-term relationship between the direct investor and the direct investment enterprise and a significant degree of influence on the management of the latter. (1) 1 Maitena Duce (2003). Definitions of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): a methodological note; www.bis.org/publ/cgfs22bde3.pdf Accessed on 22.2019
3. Benefits of FDI BENEFITS ◦ TO HOST NATION ◦ Knowledge transfer ◦ Technology Transfer ◦ Development in various industries of interest ◦ Improved standards etc ◦ Improved Productivity of local firms ◦ Adds up to country capital stock thereby raising output levels (2) ◦ Capital formation, HR development, Employment creation, expanded international trade, tax payments (3) ◦ TO INVESTOR (4) ◦ savings in transport costs (both, inputs and finished products), ◦ lower labor costs, ◦ Available infrastructure, ◦ savings in customs costs and contribution on imported goods, ◦ closer position to the customers, ◦ the possibility of quick and efficient delivery, ◦ availability of information about preferences and possibility for fast adoption of products in accordance with market requirements 2 Sarkar, Santanu. (2006). IMPACT OF INWARD FDI ON HOST COUNTRY - CASE OF INDIA. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings. 3 Akash Anand (2015). What are the positive and negative effects of foreign direct investment on the economy of a country? www.quora.com/What-are-the-positive-and-negative-effects-of-foreign-direct- investment-on-the-economy-of-a-country accessed 20.01.2019 4 I Susic et al (2017). Foreign direct investments and their impact on the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
4. CHALLENGES of FDI ◦Regulations/Laws defining rights/obligations ◦Inadequate laws ◦Inconsistencies between states ◦No consensus at the global level (5) 5 Solomon Olusola Babatunde etal (2017) - Opportunities and challenges of foreign direct investment utilisation and its impact on construction sector in developing countries; Emerald Publishing Limited
5. Effect of Unregulated FDI ◦ Loss of ownership advantage and additional costs ◦ Administrative bottleneck and overdependence ◦ Subsidies may lead to loss of revenue ◦ Crowding-out of-national firms (1) ◦ Unemployment – e.g. forcing local companies out of business ◦ Corruption and Money Laundering ◦ Collapse of vulnerable industries – e.g. retail market ◦ Potential Conflicts ◦ Reduced FDI inflows
6. Importance of Regulation ◦Sanctity of contracts ensures respect for commercial rights and obligations. ◦prohibition against discrimination and expropriation to all enterprises. (6) ◦Increased FDI with associated benefits ◦Minimized Disputes and Quicker dispute resolution ◦Protection of vulnerable industries ◦Prevention of Money Laundering and Corruption ◦Reduced unfair trade practices 6 Doing Business and Applicable Laws in Ghana; www.gipcghana.com/invest-in-ghana/doing-business-in-ghana/laws-regulation.html. Accessed on 22.01.2019
7. Regulations of FDI ◦African countries now accommodating toward FDI ◦Evidenced by changes in regulatory regimes ◦Reorientation set in shift to private sector ◦Realization that private international capital flows are a key source of development in finance in the future (Monterrey Consensus). (7) 7 OECD (2005). Regulatory environment for foreign direct investment; Preliminary inventory for selected African countries
9. International Regulations ◦No Uniform binding agreement ◦ Defining rights and obligation of Investors and Host States ◦Regulations limited to ◦ Anti-corruption conventions ◦ Regulation of state behavior towards Foreign Investments ◦Attempts at global regulations failed due to lack of consensus ◦ Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 1995 – Multilateral Agreements on Investments (MAI) (8) 8 Esohe Okhomina Olajide (2015). International Trade Law in Africa; Mozey Publication
10. Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements ◦ Incomprehensive ◦ Limited in scope ◦ Limited to signatory countries ◦ Examples ◦ North American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) ◦ Asian Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) ◦ Energy Charter Treaty ◦ ECOWAS & AU ◦ Soft Law on the international front: ◦ World Bank Guidelines on Treatment of FDI -1992 ◦ WTO through TRIMS – limited to trade related investments measures ◦ Others ◦ ICC International Code of Fair Treatment of FI 1949 ◦ ICC Guidelines for International Investments 1972 ◦ UN’s Center for Transnational Corporations 1990 ◦ ILO’s Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy 1977 ◦ World Bank’s Draft Guidelines on the Treatment of FDI 1992 (9) 9 Esohe Okhomina Olajide (2015). International Trade Law in Africa; Mozey Publication
11. Domestic/National Regulations ◦ Despite International Agreements every country has right to regulates FDI Inflows/Outflows ◦ Countries observed to have favorable FDI regulations are developing countries ◦ Majority of of FDI regulations found in National Legislations (10) ◦ Legal approaches to FDI defer: (11) ◦ Open/Outward Looking approach – ◦ Restrictive Policies, Strict Controls ◦ Closed/Inward Looking approach – e.g. Nigeria/Ghana ◦ Less restriction with exceptions to protect local/host firms NOTE No legal regime is completely free 10 OECD (2005). Regulatory environment for foreign direct investment; Preliminary inventory for selected African countries 11 Esohe Okhomina Olajide (2015). International Trade Law in Africa; Mozey Publication
12. Domestic/National Regulations Research have shown Foreign Investors in Africa/Developing (12) Countries give favorable treatment due to: ◦ Bilateral Agreements ◦ Special Contractual Arrangements ◦ Special Legislations (13) NOTE All these are known to be influenced by International Instruments 12 OECD (2005). Regulatory environment for foreign direct investment; Preliminary inventory for selected African countries 13 Esohe Okhomina Olajide (2015). International Trade Law in Africa; Mozey Publication
14. Further Reading 1. Ghana Investment Promotion Center (2019). Doing Business and Applicable Laws in Ghana; www.gipcghana.com/invest-in-ghana/doing-business-in-ghana/laws-regulation.html 2. Sarkar, Santanu. (2006). IMPACT OF INWARD FDI ON HOST COUNTRY - CASE OF INDIA. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings. 3. 2 Akash Anand (2015). What are the positive and negative effects of foreign direct investment on the economy of a country? www.quora.com/What-are-the-positive-and- negative-effects-of-foreign-direct-investment-on-the-economy-of-a-country accessed 20.01.2019 4. 3 I Susic et al (2017). Foreign direct investments and their impact on the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 5. 1 OECD (2005). Regulatory environment for foreign direct investment; Preliminary inventory for selected African countries