Theories of Foreign Direct Investment

Theories of Foreign bear Investment Foreign Direct Investment, or FDI, is a type of coronation that involves the injection of impertinent funds into an enterprise that ope wanders in a different country of origin from the postor. Foreign direct investment has many forms. Broadly, opposed direct investment includes mergers and acquisitions, skeletal carcassing modernistic facilities, reinvesting get earned from overseas trading operations and intracompany loans. Foreign direct investment incentives whitethorn take the fol crusheding forms lowcorporate assessand individualincome appraise incomerates tax holidays other types of tax concessions preferentialtariffs special sparing zones EPZ Exembrasure Processing Zones Bonded Wargonhouses Maquiladoras investment fiscal subsidies soft loanor loan guarantees free take down or land subsidies re fix & transit infrastructure subsidies R&D support derogation from regulations Once firms restrain decided to enter a unknown motley foolet, they hold in to choose the outstrip mode of entry. Firms can use six different modes to enter impertinent foodstuffs 1. Exporting, being a temporary system is like a stepping mark in the internationalistic expansion process for just about firms.In the past, Seagate was a rise up know example which concentrated its manufacturing operations in one location enables it to move down the experience curve and achieve location economies. 2. shag projects, are popular because firms can bear on with normal business operations while the contractor handle the quantify consuming and resource intense projects for a outside client. pileus of capital of Singapore shipyard is reputable for handling sophisticated shag projects regardless of is complex requirements and other considerations.This manufacturing is well known in the stinting instruction for the last 40 years and will continue to play the critical role in our economy in set up to achieve the goal for Singapore to become a leading international mari sequence link. Another example would be Sitra Holdings (International) Limited, the international producer of corporate wood base products and turnkey services, secured several turnkey design and build contracts in November 2009. Amongst these contracts, the single largest contract is worth S$3. 24 zillion at the Marina Bay precinct. 3.Licensing, enables a firm to gain access into new markets otherwise inaccessible, hence to facilitate the growth of licensing activities in Singapore with extra focus on brand licensing, character licensing and know-how licensing, the Franchising and Licensing Association (FLA) aims to encourage the word meaning of licensing as a growth strategy by producing a root to raise the awareness of how licensing can translate to income bombard for companies. 4. Franchising, in Singapore has grown tremendously and is a preferred strategy for SMEs, as it involves tokenish investment and staff, thus re ducing costs.Local entrepreneurs have successfully make their mark internation onlyy through franchising like BreadTalk, Charles & Keith, and OSIM. Larger companies can also impart use of the networks of their established franchise partners to grow world round-eyedly. 5. Joint ventures enable firms to dower the benefit of the work process from a local anaesthetic subsidiarys knowl spring of the armament country such as the competitors, culture, political and business systems and access to great resources including staff specialized in technology, finance, and so on.In November 2009, QATARQatar Petroleum International (QPI) and reproof Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd have sealed agreements in which QPI takes stakes in two Shell Chemicals joint ventures in Singapore. The deal, to be completed in December, Shell will sell its existing shareholdings in two companies to a new joint venture called QPI and Shell Petrochemicals (Singapore) Pte Ltd. 6.Establishing new wholly own subsidiarie s would be best select by firms pursuing the global and transnational strategies, for instance, Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited invested approximately S$900 million in Fraser & Neave Limited (F&N) through its wholly-owned subsidiary Seletar Investments Pte Ltd1 in December 2006. The investment would take on approximately 15 % of the total shares outstanding of F on a fully-diluted basis. This investment marks Temaseks close impregnable investment in the feed and beverage space in recent years.Temasek Holdings Limited (2006) outlandish center on political economy and cultural factors of Singapore Political and economic systems of Singapore The politics of Singapore (GOS) is substantially consigned to principal(prenominal)taining an open economy and taking a leadership role strategize Singapores in store(predicate) economic break downment. The governing does that by adopting a free enterprise, open door policy to attract immaterial investors from all types of services sector involving finance, business, tourism, telecommunication and consultancy services.As such, Singapore has exports hitting 186% of 2008 GDP. While Singapores storehouse of foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 23. 4% from $370. 5 billion in 2006 to $457. 0 billion in 2007. linked States, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Japan were the top sources of FDI in Singapore. Evidently, the postgraduate FDI index reflects Singapores role as a manufacturing base for foreign multinationals (MNCs) and as a fiscal, transportation, logistics, and trading hub. Also, with high real growth rate and low inflation played a great role in shaping the Singapore economy.Singapore is one of the most enterprising and moral force economies in the world. In this section, we compare Singapores recent handicraft carrying out with its performance in past crises, namely the 1997-1998 Asian financial Crisis where many countries and industries were affected by the deep fall of exports during the recession and the 2001-2002 dot com Bust where IT industries around the world were affected by the large exfoliation cancellation of electronic orders due to the over-investments by IT firms. In 2008 till present, Singapore is experiencing a slow down in the economy due to the US subprime crisis.The main issue is that the US Subprime Market is generating an extension of recessions in some economies and accelerating global recession in a trend. Thus, Singapores total output of the country has rock-bottom and the export of electronics goods has reduced significantly. Background to Singapores FDI strategy Singapores assertive efforts to attain FDI for to a greater extent support of its economic strategy have enabled the country to develop into a basis for multinational corporations (MNCs). Singapores investment promotion agency, the EconomicDevelopment Board (EDB), focuses on obtaining major(ip) investments in highly valued services and/or manufacturing activities, deepening its i ndustrial and export structure, using selective interventions to capture cross-industry externalities and move away from grok intensive to capital-skill and technology-intensive activities, by acquiring and upgrading the modern technologies in highly internalized forms. From Ijaz Nabi and Manjula Luthria. (2002). This strategy allowed the country to concentrate in specific phases in the production process, depriving from the track down of foundation and investing lesser in its own innovative effort.Singapores FDI policies were based on liberal entry and ownership conditions, easy access to expatriation skills and generous incentives for the activities that it was seeking to promote. The EDB was mainly set up to synchronize policy, project incentives to lead foreign investors into targeted activities, acquire and construct industrial estates to attract MNCs. The overt sector played an authorised role in launching and promoting activities selected by the government, acting as a catalyst to private investment or entering areas.Often it was the efficiency, stiffness and flexibility of government response that gave Singapore the edge over competing host countries. The splendor of inward FDI to Singapore FDI has played a crucial role through the years in accelerating the economic development in Singapore. Being a small country with no congenital resources, Singapore had depended on leading international companies not only in bringing in capital funds to broaden her economic base, exclusively also in upgrading the technology and skill electrical capacity of her industries.Since FDI is one way that Singapore can tap foreign technology, therefore a substantial amount of capital is required to help generate GDP. Further more than, exchange rate will also play a role in find out GDP. A slow appreciation of the currency will increase the bureau of those who are investing in Singapore and help to attract more investment. The Singapore dollar appreciation will also curb merchandise inflation. The importance of FDI in Singapore is reflected in the countrys ratio of inward FDI telephone circuit to GDP at 72%, the ratio is the highest in the world.From Wendy Dobson & Chia Siow Yue (1997). That importance is also reflected in the fact that 90% of value added in Singapores electronics industry (remarkable growth in exports and income) is accounted for by foreign investors, and that FDI accounts for fully two-thirds of equity capital in the countrys manufacturing sector. From Wendy Dobson & Chia Siow Yue (1997). In addition, Singapores productivity increased fastest in those industries in which FDI was concentrated. The rank correlation coefficients between increases in value added per player and increases in FDI share and FDI level were . 2 and . 45. Moreover, because foreign direct investors gain and outward remissions have tended to move in close tandem with the command performance of Singapores economy and the health of its balance of payments, while the economic take a chance taking function is also borne by those investors, time and again Singapores extraordinary reliance on FDI has effectively cushioned its economy from the balance of payments and debt crises that have hurt many other developing economies. David M, Marchick & Matthew J. Slaughter (2008) Host Country policiesFDI is attracted to Singapore mainly due to Singapores favourable investment climate and strategic geographical location. Some other reasons include non-fiscal rewards, Singapores small domestic help market unifyd with no tariffs on most imports and low corporate tax rates have made Singapore into a popular low-risk high-return FDI destination. In general, corporate taxes, or taxes imposed on corporate income, is an important determining factor of MNCs location decisions, just as individual income tax rates is an important determinant of where a person decides to work and live.Theoretically, other things equal, MNCs would prefer coun tries with rase corporate tax rates over countries with higher rates. Furthermore, a wide range of new incentives have been added over the years to promote FDI inflows. onerous regulations and performance requirements for FDI can offset a generous package of tax incentives. However, in Singapores case, the restrictions and regulations governing both the entry and operation of foreign enterprises and effect are minimal.Overall, foreign investors are subject to the same government regulations as local investors, and both have a lot of freedom in pursuing their profit objectives. In addition to the general absence of performance requirements, Singapore has also signed a large number of dodging of double taxation agreements, which mutually protect countries for a specific time against war and non-commercial risks of expropriation and nationalization.The four areas of Singapores government regulations in different areas relevant to foreign investors are the foreign exchange regime, eq uity ownership, performance requirements and human resources. First, the foreign exchange regime is highly liberal and freely allows repatriation of capital and remittance of profits, dividends, interests, royalty payments and technical licensing fees, as well as the free importee of goods and services for consumption, investment and production purposes.Second, foreign companionship is permitted in most sectors of the economy except for some limitations in the monetary sector, areas of trained and delicate personnel. However, 100% foreign equity ownership is readily permitted. Third, there are no performance requirements for foreign investors such as domestic value-added content and local sourcing of inputs, no restrictions on borrowing from the domestic capital market, and no regulations and restrictions governing the transfer of technology.Fourth, there are only minimal restrictions on the recruitment of foreign personnel employment passes are required but the government issue s these quite liberally. However, the government does encourage foreign companies to hire local managerial and technical personnel. Singapores non-fiscal advantages for foreign investors include strategic location, physical and financial infrastructure, human resources, political and social stability, good governance and a foreign investment policy that is liberal, comprehensive and well co-ordinated.Singapores location astride major sea and air routes and in the heart of Southeast Asia an economically dynamic region rich in natural resources gives it a significant locational advantage in plow and investment. Singapores highly liberal trade regime has set ahead reinforced its natural locational advantage and turned it into Southeast Asias undisputed trade hub, which, in turn, facilitates the export and import activities of foreign firms locating in Singapore.In addition, Singapores time zone advantage, straddling East Asia and Western atomic number 63, enables its financial mark ets and institutions to perform transactions with Japan, Europe and the US within its working hours. Singapore had reinforced and exploited its strategic geographical location through large investments in physical infrastructure. extensive air and sea transport and telecommunications link the city-state with the rest of the world.The domestic land transportation network is also well-developed and efficiently connects the airport and sea port to the business and financial districts. Singapores airport and sea port are maiden facilities that are consistently be as among the best in the world. Its travel telecommunications infrastructure facilitates business transactions with the outside world. Singapore has achieved world-class consideration in information and communications technology (ICT), while the government has ensured a reliable supply of power and water.Charles Oman (2000) Industrial estates, business parks and comprehension parks provide ready access to land and factory / subroutine space and industrial, commercial and research facilities and amenities -reduces the capital investment requirements of foreign investors, enables quick start-ups, and promotes external economies of industrial clustering. Singapore is a major Asia-Pacific financial centre, and its well-developed financial markets, large inflows of capital, and abundance of national savings all abide to the low cost of capital. Charles Oman (2000) .The governments human resource policy focuses on upward(a) the productivity of the labour force through schooling and training. Singapore has adopted one of the most liberal immigration regimes in the world in order to expand its quantity as well as enhancing its quality. In terms of education, the government emphasizes technical and vocational education below third level to provide a growing pool of technically fit workers, a unyielding with rapid expansion of engineering, business and computer science education at the tertiary level.Wome n were also encouraged to enter the workforce in a bid to boost the female labour force participation rate. Another major selling point of Singapore for foreign investors is its well-known socio-political stability and good governance. Its political background is well-secured and there is no explanation of incidents concerning politically motivated damage to foreign investments in Singapore. Not to notice that Singapore ranks as one of the least corrupt country in the world. Singapore has, and dynamically enforced, strong and solid anti-corruption laws.Political stability and an honest and effective political leadership and government have always been key elements in Singapores favourable business surroundings. A pro-business government policy environment and high-quality courteous service complements Singapores excellent infrastructure and public capital. A remuneration system of paying relatively high salaries to civil servants attracts a constant stream of talented individua ls to work for the government. World-class infrastructure and world-class government combine to offer a highly favourable environment for doing business.Singapore is consistently ranked among the most hawkish countries in the world terms of providing a give out business environment. According to the World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) 2005 by the form for Management Development (IMD), which ranks nations business environments by analyzing their ability to provide an environment in which enterprises can compete effectively, in 2005 Singapore ranked 3rd among the sample of 60 major industrialized and emerging economies.The FDI has increased and cave in enhanced the quality of Singapores entrepreneurial, managerial, marketing, technological and manpower resources. FDI had significantly contributed to higher exports and economic growth. However, make headway investigation also suggests that continuing large inflows of FDI may not be fully absorbed by the economy due to the scarcit y of land and shortage of labour. This may lead to crowding out of domestic entrepreneurs.In order to overcome this problem, more domestic entrepreneurs are needed to out and invest outward so as to reduce the reliance on FDI. The outcomes of Singapores strategies at attracting inward FDI Recent FDI Since 2003, one of the most active sectors in attracting FDI is the chemical sector. Through its subsidiary Faci Asia Pacific Private Ltd. , Faci SpA, has invested approximately US$5 million in a second metal stearate comprise on Jurong Island, Singapores chemical complex.And in 2006, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has developed a special family relationship with the country, opening a number of ventures, with its investment in an antibiotics plant in the Tuas Biomedical Park. Not to mention, the Integrated Resorts have unnoticeably boost the foreign investments scene in Singapore and the many efforts made by the government to attract and baffle FDI such as, the revamping of Orchard Road for reportedly $40 million and establishing of the Circle line to facilitate travelling which completes just in time for the Youth Olympic games in 2010.Conclusion For Singapore to attract and sustain FDI in all aspects, the structure that supports innovative activities must be further reinforced such as increasing research ability in public and private sectors, the availability of skilled human resources, policies to strengthen R&D infrastructure and so on, so as to foster innovation and local development. Although Singapores education system and its no tariffs on most imports and low corporate rates are its main elements of attraction, there is always manner for improvement.Summing up, the study of the strategies adopted by Singapore to attract inward FDI, the challenges that occurred, results and future directions were critically analyzed and supported with references and findings. Although Singapore is a very magnetic destination of FDI, it still has a few areas where improvements can be made in order to maximise economic growth, profits and strategic development.So long as Singapore keep up with trends in the shift towards services, develop cross cultural literacy to avoid being ill informed, sustain its hawkish advantage, ensure accessibility of government information to foreign investors and continue to invest in the up and coming, biotechnology industries, it will continue to prosper. REFERENCES Ijaz Nabi and Manjula Luthria. (2002) Building competitive firms, incentives and capabilities, Washington, DC, The World Bank.Wendy Dobson & Chia Siow Yue (1997) Multinationals and east Asian integration, Canada & Singapore, International Development research Centre. David M, Marchick & Matthew J. Slaughter (2008) Global FDI Policy, correcting a protectionist drift, USA, Council on foreign relations. Temasek Holdings Limited (2006) announces investments in Fraser & Neave Limited URLhttp//www. temasekholdings. com. sg/media_centre_news_releases_081206. htm Charl es Oman (2000) Development centre studies, Policy competition for foreign direct investment, A study of competition among governments to attract FDI, USA, OECD.Abraham A. Azubuike. (2006) Accessibility of Government Information as a Determinant of Inward Foreign Direct Investment in Africa, ECA Library, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Addis Ababa, Ethiopia URLhttp//ifla. queenslibrary. org/IV/ifla72/papers/100-Azubuike-en. pdf SPRING, franchising and licensing association (Singapore). URLhttp//www. spring. gov. sg/EnterpriseIndustry/LEAD/Pages/lead-fla. aspx WINDS, Multilateral Agreement on Investment, URLhttp//www. apfn. org/THEWINDS/archive/economy/mai11-97. html