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UNCTAD Trade and Development Report 2026
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) releases the Trade and Development Report 2026. The report emphasises the increasing significance of strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, and energy transition technologies.
Key Facts of Greenfield Investment and UNCTAD Report:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Greenfield investment | Greenfield investment refers to a form of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) where a company creates a new business operation in a foreign country. |
| India’s share of global greenfield investments | Between 2020 and 2025, India represents 5.7% of global greenfield investments. |
| China’s share of global greenfield investments | Between 2020 and 2025, China accounts for 2.8% of global greenfield investments. |
| Developing Asia: strategic investments | Developing Asia receives a substantial share of strategic investments compared to other developing economies. |
| Geographic distribution: Europe and North America | Europe and North America collectively account for 56.4% of global strategic investment. |
| Geographic distribution within developing economies | Within developing economies, the majority of strategic investment is concentrated in developing Asia. |
| Primary destinations for new strategic investment | China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore emerge as primary destinations for new strategic investment. |
| Concerns | The report highlights that least developed countries (LDCs) and other developing economies struggle to integrate into global strategic industries due to the geographic concentration of investment. |
| Strategic sectors’ share in global greenfield investment | Strategic sectors increase their share of global greenfield investment from 16% to 44% between 2020 and 2025. |
| Total global greenfield investment | The total global greenfield investment reported for the period is $845.7 billion. |
| Largest share among identified strategic sectors | AI infrastructure and related technologies account for the largest share among the identified strategic sectors. |
| Industrial policy measures by India | From 2022 to 2025, India implements 707 industrial policy measures. |
| Industrial policy implementation trend | The rate of industrial policy implementation increases both globally and within India. |
| Comparative industrial policy measures | India declines in comparative rankings, as the United States, China, Australia, and Brazil implement a greater number of industrial policy measures. |
| UNCTAD: establishment | UNCTAD is established in 1964. |
| UNCTAD: headquarters | UNCTAD is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. |
| UNCTAD: parent body | UNCTAD is a parent body of the United Nations General Assembly. |
| UNCTAD: objective | UNCTAD provides for promoting the integration of developing countries into the global economy in a way that supports development. |
| UNCTAD: key areas of work | UNCTAD key areas of work comprise international trade, investment, finance, technology, debt, and sustainable development. |
| UNCTAD: reports | UNCTAD reports comprise the Trade and Development Report, World Investment Report, and Technology and Innovation Report. |