Global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 3 percent in the first half of 2025, extending a two-year downward trend, according to the latest Global Investment Trends Monitor report released by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Friday. The decline is primarily attributed to cautious investor sentiment amid ongoing trade tensions, high interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainties, according to the report. Developed economies, where cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) plunged by 18 percent, largely drove the drop. By contrast, developing economies showed greater resilience, with overall FDI flows remaining stable. Inflows rose by 12 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean and 7 percent in developing Asian countries, while Africa saw a sharp 42-percent decline in investment, according to the report that highlighted notable regional differences. High borrowing costs and economic uncertainty continued to weigh heavily on investments in the industrial and infrastructure sectors during this period, the report showed. Announcements of greenfield projects – where firms build new operations abroad – fell 17 percent amid tariff uncertainties, driven by a 29-percent decline in supply-chain-intensive manufacturing sectors such as textiles, electronics and automotive. The report also showed a decline in international project finance, which is critical for infrastructure development. Deal numbers were down 11 percent and deal values 8 percent. The video shows: Beijing, China - Nov 1, 2025 (CCTV Video News Agency - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Screenshot of Title page of Global Investment Trends Monitor report Santiago, Chile - 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 2. Various of city view, buildings Mexico City, Mexico - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 3. Various of Angel of Independence Monument, traffic 4. Various of city view, traffic Chile - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 5. Various of flags, sign of Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) 6. Various of cityscape, bus stop, pedestrians Beijing, China - May 13, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 7. Various of China National Convention Center, venue for opening ceremony of fourth ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum; flags of China, CELAC members, regional organizations 8. Aerial shot of river, cityscape Montevideo, Uruguay - Oct 27, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 9. National flag of Uruguay Montevideo, Uruguay - March 2, 2020 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 10. Port Honduras - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 11. National flag of Honduras 12. Aerial shot of cityscape El Alto, Bolivia - 2017 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 13. Various of cityscape 14. National flag of Bolivia Nicaragua - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 15. Cargo ship at port 16. Container being hoisted up 17. Truck carrying container Almaty, Kazakhstan - Sept 3, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 18. Aerial shot of freight train moving [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]