The Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement provides global benchmarks to support the efforts of WTO members who are parties to the Agreement to improve the investment and business climate and make it easier for investors in all sectors of the economy to invest, conduct their day-to-day business and expand their operations. The IFD initiative boasts the participation of WTO members spanning all regions, representing three-quarters of the WTO membership. This includes 90 developing economies, 27 of which are least developed countries. The focus and content of the IFD Agreement have been largely shaped by developing economies.
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What is the investment facilitation (IF) needs assessment?
Needs assessments are aimed at helping developing and least-developed country (LDC) members get ready to implement the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement.
Currently, the following WTO members have co-sponsored the IFD Agreement and formally requested its incorporation into the WTO as a plurilateral agreement, under Annex 4 of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO: The Initiative is co-coordinated by H.E. Mrs. Sof韆 BOZA, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Chile to the WTO, and H.E. Ms. Sung-yo Choi, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the WTO.
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The Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement has been negotiated at the WTO against the backdrop of an increasing and reinforcing relationship between trade and investment, which has the potential to foster economic growth and diversification, job creation and sustainable development. Over the last few decades, many economies have adopted policies aimed at facilitating investment, with the aim of attracting foreign direct investment. These efforts aim to enhance these economies' production capacities and trade-related infrastructure (roads, ports, electricity, etc.), and to expand and diversify their export opportunities, which are essential to unlocking their full trade potential.
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