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UN Information Center |
In presenting the World Investment Report, 2001,
prepared by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Leonid Grigoriev,
Deputy Director of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs' Expert Institute,
stated that global flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) grew by 18% to a
record level of US$1.3
trillion in the year 2000. However, they are expected to fall this year.
The results of this study were presented to the Russian public on September 18, at the UN Information Centre in Moscow.
The annual World Investment Report is one of UNCTAD's main products. The Confernce is the UN General Assembly's permanent intergovernmental organ. All of the almost 400 workers who make up the permanent staff of the organization's secretariat participate in one way or another in the preparation of the report.
It is not difficult to understand the interest that the researchers and practising economists displayed in the topic and content of this report. Its subject-matter has to do with the dynamics of world investment flows – a phenomena akin to the global economy's bloodstream. Wherever these flows are directed, one can expect a boom of business activity – and vice versa.
Dr Grigoriev pointed out that direct foreign investment is acquiring ever greater significance in the process of globalization of the world economy. More than 60 thousand transnational corporations (TNCs), with more than 800 thousand branches abroad, are the driving force behind the worldwide expansion of investment flows. The developed countries remain the primary recipients of FDI: they get more than 3/4 of the global investment flow. Direct capital investment in the developed countries has increased by 21%, slightly exceeding $1 trillion.
The
flow of FDI to the developing nations has also grown, reaching $240 billion
last year. However, their share of the world flow of capital shrank for the
second year in a row, dropping to 19% against the record high of 41% in 1994.
In 2000, the share of the 49 least developed countries amounted to only 0.3%.
Foreign direct investment in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe has also increased, to an unprecedented level of $27 billion. Deals involving privatized former state enterprises have played a key role in this massive flow of money into the region. Mr. Grigoriev emphasized that, according to the report, Russia, like both Poland and the Czech Republic, was a centre of attraction last year for foreign direct investment among the world's growing economies.
It is simply impossible to describe in a few words the results of months of painstaking work by highly professional economists. We invite all interested readers to get acquainted with the Report by themselves. The World Investment Report, 2001, along with all the previous reports, is available from the library of the UN Information Centre in Moscow. It is gratifying to note that the release of the document went off without a hitch.
The UN Information Centre
in Moscow:
Glazovsky Pereulok, 4/16
Tel: (095) 241-25-37
Fax: (095) 230-21-38
Internet site: www.unic.ru
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UNODCCP United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention |
For the first time in the Russian penitentiary system’s history
sport contests in football, volleyball, ping-pong, chess and draughts were held
between Mozhaisk and Ikshansk Penitentiary Facilities for Minor Offenders on
August 19. The Moscow Region Optimalist Club organized the event as a part of
the Global Initiative for 
Prevention
of Narcotics and Substance Abuse, implemented jointly by UNODCCP and WHO.
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United Nations Association of Russia |
A national conference, dedicated to the International Year
of Volunteers (IYV) now underway by order of the UN General Assembly, will be
held in the Conference 
Hall
of the RF Foreign Ministry’s Moscow State Institute of International Relations
(MGIMO), on November 22, 2001.
The government of the Russian Federation formed a Russian National Committee to oversee the International Year of Volunteers. It included representatives from concerned ministries, international organizations (including the UN Development Programme), and non-governmental volunteer organizations. The Committee was headed by MGIMO Rector and Chairman of the UN Association of Russia Anatoly Torkunov.
Throughout the year, the Russian Committee for the IYV and the activists who gathered around it held a number of nation-wide and regional events in support of the volunteer movement.
The conference participants will now sum up the results of their work, and are exchanging information on their volunteer work experience. Awards will be presented to the best volunteers, as nominated by the regions. Their work will not stop there: the delegates will take advantage of this opportunity to discuss how their movement will develop further, following the end of the International Year of Volunteers.
