External publications

Domestic Investment Facilitation Frameworks: measuring their extent and variation

Berger, Axel / Florian Gitt / Ali Dadkhah
External Publications (2025)

in: Axel Berger / Manjiao Chi (eds.), The making of an International Investment Facilitation Framework: legal, political and economic perspectives: Cambridge University Press, 15-45

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009444095.004
Open access

This chapter uses the investment facilitation index (IFI) to map the adoption of over 100 investment facilitation measures in more than 140 countries. The study finds a wide variation in investment facilitation frameworks across and within world regions and income groups, with measures related to internal and external cooperation less frequently adopted in low-income countries. Few countries have well-functioning single-window mechanisms, and focal points are either completely missing or lacking many important functions. The study highlights the importance of binding multilateral commitments and support structures for implementing investment facilitation reforms in countries of lower income levels, as foreseen in the nascent Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement. The findings suggest potential for regional and international initiatives through peer-learning and sharing of best practices to improve investment facilitation frameworks worldwide.