Investment Promotion Agencies and Foreign Direct Investment

""Dr Martin Kaspar’s Investment Promotion Agencies and Foreign Direct Investment is a sharp, practical guide to understanding how IPAs can influence FDI outcomes. Bridging theory with real-world insights, this book explores both the investor’s and the IPA’s perspectives—revealing what works, what doesn’t, and - most importantly - why. Dr Martin Kaspar provides useful policy recommendations and a strong operational focus. The book contains valuable lessons for governments, investment professionals, and corporate decision-makers alike. In an era of rising global competition and shifting investment priorities, this book is a timely and essential resource. "" — Victor do Prado, SciencesPo Paris ""Drawing on extensive professional experience in international corporate development, Dr. Kaspar offers a unique and practice-informed perspective on the role of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). This book makes a timely and important contribution to practitioners as well as academic literature, deepening our understanding of how MNE managers engage with IPAs and the strategic functions these agencies play in facilitating foreign investment. It will be of significant interest to scholars of international business, economic development, and public policy."" — Professor Dylan Sutherland, Durham University “As someone working closely with investment promotion agencies, I find this book an excellent resource. By combining academic insights with practical perspectives, it provides fresh and valuable guidance for practitioners and policymakers, while offering a unique view of how IPAs are perceived by investors and the vital role they play in attracting FDI.” — Alexandre De Crombrugghe, Head of Investment Promotion & Facilitation at OECD “IPAs play a vital role in attracting and facilitating FDI to countries, regions, and cities. However, their broad mandates are rarely matched with adequate resources, budgets, or political support within defined role within whole-of-government frameworks. The policy and practical insights presented in this book underscore the critical importance of IPAs as key drivers of economic development whose role must be empowered and strengthened, especially in today’s increasingly challenging environment marked by declining FDI flows and complex host-country political economy constraints.” — Brian Portelli, Senior Advisor, United Nations Industrial Development Organization ""This book is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in shaping or executing investment strategies. By combining practical insights with global best practices, it equips FDI professionals with the tools needed to attract, facilitate, and retain high-quality investment. A must-read for those seeking to drive sustainable growth and elevate their locations on the global stage."" — Courtney Fingar, Founder & Principal of Fingar Direct Investment ""This is a much-needed book for practitioners, policy makers , researchers and professionals in the field of FDI - including corporate managers of FDI projects. It is also a courageous book as it not only discusses the role of investment promotion (agencies) in attracting FDI in today's global economy, but also addresses a missing link in the field of FDI and Investment promotion: the corporate manager's perspective towards investment promotion and what IPAs can best do to better address corporate needs and requirements. In his policy advice for IPAs the author also dares to touch upon the sensitive topic of de-politicization of FDI and investment promotion. The worst a reader can do while reading this book is put it aside and not taking the recommendations and advice seriously."" — Dr. Douglas van den Berghe, Managing Partner and Founder NxtZones. “As someone who has accompanied numerous FDI projects, this book offers a refreshingly realistic analysis of the FDI process from a practitioners view and the strengths and weaknesses of Investment Promotion Agencies. Kaspar succeeds in highlighting the importance of hands-on support and aftercare as key factors for IPA’s to create an attractive foreign direct investment ecosystem. A “must-read” for everyone who is conducting or promoting FDI in this era of rising uncertainty and protectionism.”— Cornelius Thor, Senior Director, DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft