Investment Facilitation for Sustainable Development within the Context of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

This report analyses investment facilitation commitments for sustainable development within the context of the the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ASEAN Investment Facilitation Framework (AIFF), and the WTO Draft Investment Facilitation Framework for Development. While the potential role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in promoting sustainable development is well recognised, the report reveals that significant gaps exist in these instruments with respect to linkages between investment facilitation and sustainable development. In light of the gaps identified, the report puts forward a package of recommendations to help policymakers formulate FDI policies and guide investment promotion agencies (IPAs) to better promote and facilitate FDI for sustainable development.