For decades, “industrial policy” was a dirty word in development circles. Today, the World Bank, which was once one of its most vocal skeptics, has not only lifted the taboo but is actively offering governments a playbook for doing it right. This shift has major implications for how foreign investors assess opportunity and risk. Industrial policy, government action to shape what an economy produces, has surged worldwide amid slow growth, supply‑chain insecurity, and rising pr

ing course. Deputy Prime Minister Óscar Pérez‑Oliva Fraga has publicly confirmed that Cubans abroad, including those in Miami, will be allowed to invest, operate private enterprises, and potentially own property. This shift is part of a broader reform strategy aimed at stabilizing an economy battered by declining tourism, chronic shortages, and tightening U.S. sanctions. Officials have emphasized their desire for “fluid commercial relations” not only with U.S. companies but

Europe is once again confronting an energy shock; this time triggered not by Russia, but by geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East. As oil prices hover near $100 per barrel and natural gas markets swing wildly, investors are asking a critical question: Is Europe still a stable destination for long‑term foreign direct investment (FDI)? The answer is more nuanced and more promising than the headlines suggest. European leaders entered 2026 hoping to focus on long‑term competiti

Armed conflict has always reshaped the global economy, but today’s interconnected supply chains mean that a single regional war can reverberate across continents; disrupting markets, rerouting capital, and reshaping foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in ways few investors anticipate. Modern globalization has created dense webs of trade, energy dependence, and cross‑border production. When war erupts, whether in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, or elsewhere; its economic sh

Canada enters 2026 with a headline that commands attention: foreign direct investment has surged to its highest level since 2007, marking a powerful vote of confidence from global investors. Yet this surge arrives at a moment when Canada’s broader international financial position is showing signs of strain, creating a nuanced and sometimes contradictory investment landscape. The latest data from Statistics Canada indicates that the country’s net international investment po

Energy subsidy reform is accelerating across emerging markets (EM) and Africa, reshaping investment landscapes just as global energy volatility reaches new highs. For foreign investors, these shifts signal both opportunity and uncertainty. Fossil‑fuel subsidies remain a major fiscal burden for many EM governments, often reinforcing inequality and slowing the transition to cleaner energy systems. Recent research shows that subsidy structures in developing economies frequently

Zambia has always positioned itself as one of Africa’s most compelling destinations for mineral‑focused foreign direct investment (FDI) and the numbers suggest the world is starting to take notice. Zambia’s economy is deeply tied to its mineral wealth, particularly copper, which remains the backbone of national exports and a critical input for global clean‑energy supply chains. Recent economic data shows renewed momentum: FDI inflows reached USD 176.3 million in Q3 2025 , rev

Nigeria’s energy sector is entering one of its most pivotal transitions in decades, and global investors are watching closely. The country’s push to overhaul its power system, long plagued by transmission bottlenecks, liquidity gaps, and chronic underinvestment, has created a rare moment where policy ambition and market opportunity are finally aligning. Nigeria’s 2026 reform cycle is accelerating structural changes across the electricity value chain. The government is conside

Emerging markets are stepping into 2026 with a compelling mix of opportunity and uncertainty, and nowhere is this tension more visible than in the foreign‑exchange landscape. FX volatility has become a defining feature of the investment environment, shaping not only portfolio returns but also the strategic calculus behind foreign direct investment. For global firms deploying capital into EM operations, currency swings are no longer background noise , they are a core driver of

Emerging markets entered 2026 with a surprising mix of resilience and fragility, an environment where investors are being forced to rethink both risk and opportunity. For foreign direct investors, the latest data and rating actions offer a clearer signal: fundamentals are improving, but the macro backdrop remains anything but calm. Recent assessments show that emerging markets continue to grapple with persistent inflation, tightening financing conditions, and geopolitical ten

Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are entering a new era of strategic recalibration, and nowhere is this shift more visible than in their growing interest in private capital across the Middle East and Africa. As global volatility reshapes capital flows, the search for resilient, high‑growth opportunities is pushing these state-backed investors toward markets once considered peripheral, but now impossible to ignore. The backdrop is changing fast. Gulf sovereign funds, originally b

frica’s election calendar for 2026 is unusually dense, and for foreign investors, the second half of the year will be defined less by who wins than by how political competition reshapes regulatory certainty, macro‑stability, and operational risk. With global capital already cautious, Africa’s political economy is entering a period where governance signals matter more than headline growth. Across the continent, political transitions are unfolding against a backdrop of global u

Sub‑Saharan Africa is entering a period where agriculture is becoming one of the most compelling frontier‑market opportunities for foreign direct investment. The region’s economic momentum is gradually strengthening , with growth rising from 4.0 percent in 2025 to an estimated 4.3 percent in 2026 and 4.5 in 2027, supported by moderating inflation, improved electricity supply, and stronger harvests in key economies such as South Africa. This recovery is unfolding alongside ri

African economies are entering a pivotal moment where global competition for capital is intensifying, and investors are watching how governments reshape incentives to attract sustainable, future‑ready industries. The continent’s push toward industrial transformation, green growth, and deeper trade integration is creating new openings, and new uncertainties. Across the continent, governments are rethinking industrial policy to accelerate structural transformation. Africa’s eco

Indonesia has become impossible to ignore in the global race for battery metals, but its critical minerals strategy is evolving fast and foreign investors need to read the fine print. From near-zero battery capacity a few years ago to the world’s dominant refined nickel supplier today, Indonesia has turned a basic ore into a geopolitical asset at the heart of the EV transition. Yet questions over ESG, policy predictability, and technology shifts in batteries now sit alongside

Latin America headed into 2026 with its seatbelt sign on. Growth is stabilizing but fragile, and investors are navigating a region shaped by global uncertainty, domestic political shifts, and uneven economic momentum. Yet beneath the volatility, selective opportunities for foreign capital are emerging. The broader context is defined by slow global growth, persistent inflation pressures, and weakening demand from major partners like China. The UNDP highlights that the region’s

A sharp rise in global borrowing through 2025 sets the stage for a pivotal moment as the new 2026 Global Debt Report arrives this week. The latest available analysis shows debt markets under mounting pressure from sustained fiscal deficits, rising interest costs, and growing refinancing needs, even as surface‑level liquidity and volatility indicators appeared stable through 2025 . The current debt landscape The 2025 report highlights that global debt markets have shifted from