Investments made by one nation into the commercial interests of another, usually through the establishment of new operations, the purchase of assets, or ownership positions in foreign businesses, are referred to as foreign direct investment (FDI).
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its World Investment Report 2024, which states that in 2023, amid an economic slowdown and escalating geopolitical tensions, worldwide foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 2% to $1.3 trillion.
These disruptions were caused by a number of factors that affected economies all around the world, such as protectionist policies, crises, and regional realignments. Notwithstanding these obstacles, investment distribution differs greatly throughout nations, with certain emerging as preferred locations because of particular benefits.
With $9.841 billion in FDI in 2023, Egypt led Africa; however, this was a drop from $11.4 billion in 2022. While Nigeria received $1.873 billion, South Africa witnessed a decrease as well, receiving $5.2 billion in 2023 as opposed to $9.2 billion in 2022. The United Kingdom, with $60 billion, is the largest European investor in FDI stock in Africa, followed by France and the Netherlands, each with $54 billion.
The top ten African nations with the most foreign direct investments (FDI) are shown below:
1. Egypt $9.841 billion
2. South Africa $5.2 billion
3. Ethiopia $3.263 billion
4. Uganda $2.886 billion
5. Senegal $2.641 billion
6. Mozambique $2.509 billion
7. Namibia $2.345 billion
8. Nigeria $1.873 billion
9. Côte d’Ivoire $1.753 billion
10. Democratic Republic of the Congo $1.635 billion.