Background
Direct investment is a key driver of growth and economic integration. With the right policy framework, direct investment provides a list of benefits for the host economy that include increases in tax revenues, creation of jobs, technological advancement, and promotion of economic development. The increasing importance of direct investment highlights the compelling need for the availability of statistics to assess the trends and developments of these flows. Nevertheless, the usefulness of these statistics depends on their reliability in alignment with international standards, accuracy and consistency over a time series, and accessibility in a timely manner to guide policy decisions. However, the robustness of these statistics in the region is limited by weaknesses in data collection systems, compilation and dissemination practices. Furthermore, the globalisation of production processes and technological advancement also poses complex methodological challenges for compilers. This course comes against a backdrop of the need to strengthen capacity in the region for compilation and dissemination of direct robust investment statistics to support evidence-based policy decisions on foreign investment.

Objective

• To create an understanding of the concepts and coverage of direct investment statistics according to the balance of payments and international investment position.

• To enhance participants’ skills on the compilation of direct investment statistics and explore their data sources; and

• To provide a platform for discussion of country practices in dealing with data collection and compilation challenges on direct investment statistics within the region.

Course Content
The course will cover the following issues, among others:

• Conceptual framework and recording in the external sector accounts.

• Data sources.

• Compilation methodologies for direct investment statistics.

• Interpretation of financial statements for validation of direct investment statistics; and

• Dissemination practices and analytical use of direct investment statistics.

Target Group
This course is designed for junior to middle level staff in central banks, ministries of finance and national statistics offices/agencies responsible for compilation and dissemination of Balance of Payments (BOP) statistics.