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UNCTAD warns the new investment landscape offers opportunities for developing countries but also risks, including the danger of being left behind as investment becomes more capital- and technology-intensive and policy-dependent.

Investors are prioritizing economic security and targeted industrial policy over purely cost-based decisions, concentrating capital in high-priority sectors such as semiconductors, AI, advanced manufacturing, and green energy technologies, which together accounted for a plurality of 2025 greenfield investment.

In 2025, data centres, oil and gas, and semiconductors led investment activity, while strategic greenfield investment in these sectors rose to 44% of global total, up from 16% five years earlier.

FDI is increasingly focused in a handful of economies and in strategic sectors like semiconductors, digital infrastructure, AI, and energy-transition tech, reflecting a 44% share of global greenfield project value in 2025.

Regional cooperation between business and government is crucial to reduce risk, improve project preparation, and showcase successful investments in developing economies, helping broader participation without broad restrictions.

Developing countries can enter new value chains through practical entry points such as mineral processing, component manufacturing, digital infrastructure maintenance, renewable energy equipment, logistics, recycling, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

New entry points also arise from supply chain reconfiguration, demand for critical minerals, clean energy deployment, and digital infrastructure, creating opportunities in processing, components, services, logistics, and regional value chains.

The report calls for stronger international cooperation and national policies to bolster infrastructure, build industrial capabilities, and strengthen domestic firms so investment supports sustainable, inclusive growth.

Investment in data centres and digital infrastructure can boost productivity and digital ecosystems, complementing manufacturing for broader development despite concerns about job creation.

Outlook for 2026 remains fragile and cautious amid slower global growth, policy uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and potential supply chain disruptions, with sustained FDI recovery hinging on stable policies and integration into global strategic supply chains.

The overarching goal is to widen participation in strategic investments to prevent a development divide and enable developing countries to build credible entry points into future value chains.