Determining Quality FDI: A Commentary on the OECD's 'FDI Qualities Project

Abstract

The OECD Secretariat launched, in 2018, a “FDI qualities project”. Its objective is to provide governments with a tool kit to attract investment that contributes as much as possible to sustainable development; for that purpose, it has identified “FDI qualities indicators”. This brief note discusses the approach used to identify these indicators and the approach taken to identify FDI sustainability characteristics. This work will — and should — have implications for future arbitral proceedings, as well as the WTO’s Structured Discussions on investment facilitation.