MANAMA: In the first half of 2016, global FDI flows decreased by 5% as compared to the second half of 2015, to USD 793 billion but remain above half-year trends observed in 2013 and 2014.
The statistics released by the OECD on Thursday revealed that in Q1 2016, FDI flows rose to USD 513 billion due to large flows in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in the United Kingdom after Royal Dutch Shell bought British Gas. FDI flows then decreased 46 % to USD 279 billion in the second quarter. While the United States continued to receive large inflows in Q2 2016 partly due to financial and corporate restructuring which had also boosted FDI flows in 2014 and 2015 this was offset by disinvestments. The measure was constructed using FDI statistics on a directional basis whenever available, supplemented by measures on an asset/liability basis when needed.
