It is no surprise that global inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) are expected to slump by almost 30 per cent to $1,200bn in 2009, after peaking at $1,830bn in 2007.
But what does give pause for thought is that in 2008, when FDI inflows slowed to $1,700bn, France emerged as both the world’s second-biggest FDI recipient and the second-biggest exporter, outpaced only by the US.
