Innovations in Foreign Direct Investment Attraction

Guidelines for IPAs from LAC

Currently, most of the IPAs in LAC offer assistance with skills and training but mainly 

by referring investors to other organizations rather than having a dedicated skills and 

training team. One exception is CEI-RD in the Dominican Republic, which has in-

house capability to provide skills and training services to investors.

Skills and training services should be provided as part of the key account manage-

ment strategy; not all investors should receive the same service. A basic service offer-

ing signposting to skills and training organizations can be provided to all investors 

while a more bespoke skills and training program could be considered for major in-

vestors to help them invest, expand and upgrade their operations. 

Often a skills and training program starts with key investors in similar sectors before 

being rolled-out in other sectors. Many IPAs around the world started such programs 

with BPO investors, as their investments are so skills-driven and have high training 

needs given the volume of staff being recruited and because BPO investors are foot-

loose and can easily relocate to a lower cost location, so continuous skills develop-

ment and subsidiary upgrading are needed. 

A skills and training program needs to be delivered by a dedicated team of training 

experts, either within the IPA or in a partner organization closely affiliated with and 

coordinated by the IPA. Key steps in developing a skills and training program include: