UNCTAD reports India rose to rank 15 on top global destinations for FDI in 2024
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development data issued on Thursday India rose to rank 15 among top global destinations for foreign direct investment in 2024.
The development comes despite a marginal dip in inflows at $27.6 billion.
The agency noted that the decline in inflows contrasts with a notable increase in greenfield project announcements.
India ranked 4th with 1,080 greenfield projects announced in 2024.
India is among the top five economies in terms of international project finance deals, securing 97 such transactions, data stated.
UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025 said that as per report in 2023, India was ranked 16th when it attracted $28.1 billion in FDI.
“FDI flows to developing Asia – by far the largest recipient region – were 3 per cent lower. FDI in China fell for a second year, by 29 per cent. FDI flows increased in ASEAN (up 10 per cent) to $225 billion, a new record.
They fell by 2 per cent in India, despite a significant increase in announced greenfield projects.
The report said that flows to West Asia remained at a high level, mainly because of strong inflows into the United Arab Emirates,”.
India and Saudi Arabia rose in the rankings compared with the previous year, data showed.
The number of greenfield projects announced by Indian investors increased by 20 percent, placed India among the world’s top 10 investor countries, the report said.
US-led greenfield activity in sectors such as semiconductors and automobiles, India’s outbound investments focused on semiconductors and basic metals, it said.
The report added that “New battery and EV assembly facilities were announced in the United States, India and several European countries”.
